Abstract:

In all countries Governments have become major sponsors of survey research. As an information tool the social survey designed to discover the facts in some area of government activity is now commonplace and increasingly surveys of opinion play a part in this government information service. In Britain the Government Social Survey have played an important part in keeping government informed; survey research is then an established part of the government information service. In what ways does this type of information contribute to government policy? Any attempt to answer that question must necessarily be tentative because it is almost impossible to categorically relate decisions to specific inputs and in any event government policy itself is a manifold thing. Some aspects of it being more susceptible to influence by survey research than others. Furthermore, given the vast range of government activity it is impossible to be familiar with all aspects. This paper must therefore be impressionistic.