The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Young educated ‘more engaged’ with indy debate
Large increase in democratic engagement by Scots in last six years
More young and highly-educated people publicly engaged with the Scottish independence debate than older people or those with fewer qualifications, a survey has found.
There has been a large rise in democratic engagement in the last six years and the independence referendum was a big factor, new analysis from the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey found.
Nearly 70% did at least one activity to register what they thought about an issue in 2015 – up from 55% in 2009 – and nearly a third (31%) of people who registered their views did so in connection with the independence debate.
Younger people were more likely to have taken part in a referendum-related activity, with 44% of 18 to 29-year-olds engaging compared with 26% of those aged 65 or over.
Those with degrees or highers were also more likely to have engaged in at least one referendum-related activity (34%) compared with 23% of those with standard grades or no formal qualifications.
A majority of Scots believe they have the power to instigate changes in their local area.
Over three-fifths (61%) of Scots agreed that people in their area are able to find ways to improve things locally when they want, data from the survey shows.
Just 11% disagreed while around a quarter were on the fence, the new analysis of 2015 data found.
An overwhelming majority (96%) think that local people should be involved in decisions about the design and delivery of their public services.
Over a third (35%) of people had either volunteered at, or help set up, a local community organisation.
70% completed at least one activity to register an opinion on an issue in 2015, up from 55% in 2009
31% of those who registered their views did so in connection with the independence debate
44% of 18-29 year-olds engaged regarding the referendum, compared with 26% of those aged 65 or over
61% of Scots believe that people in their areas are able to find ways to improve things locally.