• About this study
• Our findings

Scottish Social Attitudes 2010

About this study

The Scottish Social Attitudes survey has tracked the views of people in Scotland on a range of social, moral and political issues since 1999. Every year, around 1,500 people are interviewed on a wide range of different topics

Latest findings

Download our report and research findings on attitudes to discrimination and positive action from the Scottish Government website.

You can find out about attitudes to how Scotland should be governed by reading topline findings or a four page findings summary.

Read our press release about attitudes to sex and relationships here.

Further findings from the 2010 survey will be added to these pages as they become available.

Questions on the 2010 survey

The 2010 survey was funded by the Nuffield Foundation, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Scottish Government and the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Topics covered in this year include:

1. Attitudes to discrimination and positive action
2. Devolution and attitudes to government
3. Public services
4. Social and moral issues

Attitudes to discrimination and positive action

SSA 2010 includes a series of questions exploring attitudes to discrimination on grounds of age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation and gender reassignment. Many of these questions were also included in SSA in 2002 and 2006, so we can look at how attitudes to different groups have changed over time. In addition, the 2010 survey also explores attitudes to different kinds of action government and private companies could take to try and increase equality. Click here for the full report or the shorter research findings summary.

Devolution and attitudes to government

SSA 2010 continues a long-running series of questions on public attitudes to government. These explore issues including political trust and the perceived impact of devolution on Scotland's voice in the UK. The 2010 survey also includes questions (funded by the Nuffield Foundation) on attitudes to options for Scotland's future, reflecting ongoing debates about independence, funding, and the devolution of more powers to the Scottish Parliament.  Findings from these questions were presented at a seminar at the Institute of Governance in December. Click here for slides.

Public services

SSA regularly collects views on standards in key public services - including health, education and public transport - in Scotland. The 2010 survey also includes questions on who people think has most influence over local public services.

Social and moral issues

SSA 2010 includes questions on a range of social and moral issues, including: equality; welfare and redistribution of wealth; sex before marriage; abortion; and legalising cannabis. These questions have all been asked before on SSA and are also included in the 2010 British Social Attitudes survey. The findings will compare both change over time and differences in attitudes between Scotland and England.

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