Information for young Scottish voters : new survey evidence - Under 18-year olds’ views on Scottish Independence

With 100 days left before the vote on whether Scotland should become an independent country on Monday, 9 June, AQMeN hosts an event to present findings from a new survey on the youngest voters in this referendum.

The referendum on Scotland’s constitutional future in September 2014 will see 16- and 17-year old voters coming to the polls for the first time at the national level in Scotland. Following on from the AQMeN survey project last year, the team from Edinburgh University’s School of Social and Political Science will present updated findings based on a completely new survey conducted in April and May 2014. The survey addressed voters who will be able to participate in the referendum this September but who are currently under the age of 18 and therefore excluded from other representative surveys on this topic. While some polling institutes include 16- and 17-year olds in their samples, there are too few members of this age group in those polls to allow for any specific in-depth engagement with this age group.

The only comprehensive, representative survey of this age to date has been conducted as part of this project illustrating how the newly enfranchised young people suggested they would vote in 2014 and allowing us to examine what drove their decision making. Using the new data we will now be able to see whether one year later the campaigns have been able to engage with young people in an effective way and thus changing their views and perceptions.

At this event participants will hear presentations from the Edinburgh University team members

• Dr Jan Eichhorn (Social Policy)
• Prof Lindsay Paterson (Social Policy)
• Prof John MacInnes (Sociology)
• Dr Michael Rosie (Sociology)

Discussing a range of topics including:

• The methodology of the survey
• The referendum voting intentions of the young people
• Their evaluation of the information provided and the sources they use
• The way in which young people discuss the referendum and what impact that has on their views
• How their general political attitudes relate to their constitutional preferences
• Comparisons to the adult population regarding voting intention and evaluations of an independent Scotland

Attendance is free of charge, but places are strictly limited and registration is required. Please sign up here in order to secure your place 

Venue: Royal College of Physicians, 9 Queen Street, Edinburgh
Date: Monday, 9 June 2014
Time: 09.30 – 12.30

Venue: Royal College of Physicians, 9 Queen Street, Edinburgh

Date: Monday, 9 June 2014

Time: 09.30 – 12.30

There will be coffee and tea during the registration from 09.30 until 10.00. The presentation will begin subsequently and will be followed by an open discussion with the audience and the research team providing ample space for questions and engagement.

This news and information item first appeared on the home page of  goodenoughcaring.com on May 25th, 2014