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Title:
Survey of Public Attitudes and Behaviours toward the Environment, 2007
(Survey of Attitudes, Knowledge and Behaviour in Relation to the Environment)

Subject Categories:
Environmental and conservation issues - Environment, conservation and land use
Political behaviour and attitudes - Politics

Depositor(s):
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Environment Statistics and Indicators Division

Principal Investigator(s):
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Environment Statistics and Indicators Division
BMRB. Social Research

Sponsor(s):
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Abstract:
The 2007 survey is the sixth in a series commissioned by the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) (formerly the Department of the Environment (DOE) and the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)). The aim of the survey was to investigate the environmental concerns, awareness and behaviour of people living in England. The previous five surveys in the series were carried out in 1986, 1989, 1993, 1996-1997 and 2001. Some questions are comparable allowing time series analysis. Users should note that the UK Data Archive currently holds all surveys in the series apart from the fourth (1996-1997).

The results of the 2007 survey provide information for DEFRA and contribute to wider government policy on many areas including climate change. They provide data that will allow assessment of current levels of behaviour in different environmental subject areas, particularly transport, energy efficiency and recycling. The data also give an insight into attitudes to the environment, and are used to cluster the population into segments that will facilitate better targeting of information and publicity.

Further information about the 2007 survey, including reports and publications, may be found on the DEFRA Public Attitudes and Behaviours toward the Environment web page.

Main Topics:
The main 2007 questionnaire covered: household and respondent characteristics; well-being; consumer Target Group Index (TGI) Life Values measures (for data fusion); travel behaviour; energy and water efficiency in the home; recycling, composting and reducing waste; purchasing behaviour; and awareness and attitudes in relation to the environment and climate change.

A set of additional questions, that did not fit on the main survey, were also asked in a BMRB Omnibus survey, to a sample of 1,661 respondents. These covered: further demographics; political issues that the government should prioritise; life satisfaction; gardens; visits to 'green' and public spaces; visits to the countryside and attitudes to countryside management; pet and farm animal welfare; and biodiversity.

Standard Measures
TGI Life Value Statements (BMRB). Further information can be found on the BMRB TGI web site.

Coverage:
Dates of Fieldwork: Fieldwork took place in spring 2007.
Country: England
Spatial Units: Government Office Regions (GORs)
Observation Units: Individuals
Kind of Data: Numeric data; Individual (micro) level

Universe Sampled:
Location of Units of Observation:National
Population:Persons aged 16 and over resident in England

Methodology:
Time Dimensions: Repeated cross-sectional study
seven waves - 1986, 1989, 1993, 1996-97, 2001, 2007 and 2009. Users should note that the UKDA only holds data from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th surveys
Sampling Procedures: One-stage stratified or systematic random sample
See documentation for further details.
Number of Units: Main survey: 3,618. Omnibus survey: 1,661.
Method of Data Collection: Face-to-face interview
Weighting: Weighting used. See documentation for details.

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 Access and Preservation, UK Data Archive
Contact: Help desk: help@esds.ac.uk

Date of Release:
First Edition: 5 November 2007

Copyright:
Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen’s Printer for Scotland

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