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Title:
Families, Social Mobility and Ageing, an Intergenerational Approach, 1900-1988
(100 Families)

Subject Categories:
Social attitudes and behaviour - Society and culture
Family life and marriage - Social stratification and groupings
Social and occupational mobility - Social stratification and groupings

Depositor(s):
Thompson, P., University of Essex. Department of Sociology

Principal Investigator(s):
Thompson, P., University of Essex. Department of Sociology
Newby, H., University of Essex. Department of Sociology

Sponsor(s):
Economic and Social Research Council

Grant Number:
AI01230015

Abstract:
This is an enhanced qualitative study.

The study sought to combine two normally separate fields of study, family life and social mobility. It examined connections between them through in-depth life story interviews. The objective of the research was to produce a sample-based investigation of ordinary families and normal processes of inter-generational influences with which to compare them.

The study explored geographical and social mobility and the role of the family in inter-generational terms from the perspective of gender and migration. Participants were asked extensive questions relating to their own, and their family's, education, politics, family tree, marriage and relationships, housing, parents' work, and leisure.

The fieldwork strategy selected a 'middle generation' of men and women aged 30 to 55 and married with children. Where possible an older or younger (over 16) member of the family was additionally interviewed. The middle generation informants were initially drawn from a subsample of informants interviewed for an ESRC stagflation project who had agreed to been re-interviewed. They were located in 200 polling districts in 35 parliamentary constituencies in Scotland, London, north-west, west and south-east England and the Midlands. Further polling districts were added and a stratified occupational quota was introduced to ensure an appropriate class balance. The collection consists of interviews with 170 informants. Of these, 87 were middle generation, 42 younger, and 41 were older generation informants. The families included 26 represented by a lone informant and 11 where three generations were interviewed. The interviews average 54 pages in length.

The collection was deposited on paper. It was enhanced through scanning, proof-reading and anonymisation of the original transcripts. Usability of the transcripts was further enhanced through reformatting of the layout, the insertion of XML speaker tags and eventual conversion to searchable Word and RTF formats.

Further information on the project is available through ESDS Qualidata Online
Main Topics:
The survey was carried out with the purpose of gathering ethnographic and dynamic information illustrative of family, ageing, and social mobility. The semi-structured interview transcripts combine accounts of family background and occupations with full life stories covering education, politics, family tree, marriage and relationships, housing, parents' work, and leisure.

Coverage:
Time Period Covered: 1900-1988
Dates of Fieldwork: 1985-1988
Country: Great Britain
Spatial Units: Electoral Wards/Divisions (England);Electoral Divisions (Wales);Electoral Wards (Scotland)
Observation Units: Individuals; Families/households
Kind of Data: Textual data; Individual (micro) level; Semi-structured interviews

Universe Sampled:
Location of Units of Observation:National
Population:Men and women aged 30 to 55 and married with children and older or younger (over 16) members of the family

Methodology:
Time Dimensions: Cross-sectional (one-time) study
Sampling Procedures: One-stage stratified or systematic random sample
Number of Units: 170
Method of Data Collection: Face-to-face interview
Weighting: No weighting used

Language(s) of Written Materials:
Study Description: English
Study Documentation: English

Access:
Access Conditions: The depositor has specified that registration is required and standard conditions of use apply. The depositor may be informed about usage. See terms and conditions for further information.
Availability: ESDS Qualidata, UK Data Archive
Contact: Help desk: qualidata@esds.ac.uk

Date of Release:
First Edition: 21 July 2005

Copyright:
Copyright P. R. Thompson

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