The National SOM Survey 1988

The questionnaire for the third study in the series of annual SOM surveys was divided into six subject fields: Mass media, politics and society, energy and nuclear power, Sweden´s relation to other countries, residential environment and interests, and social background and music habits. The SOM survey contains a core of questions asked in earlier SOM surveys. New questions in SOM88 dealt with the respondent's opinion on best coverage of specific issues in different mass media and their opinion on publication of names in connection with crimes, accidents and personal relationships. The respondents had to indicate if they agreed or disagreed with a number of statements about the way Swedish journalists do their work. A number of questions dealt with the hearings held by the Swedish parliamentary standing committee on the constitution in connection with the so called Ebbe Carlsson affair. Other questions dealt with mass media coverage of foreign submarine incursions into Swedish territory. Furthermore the respondents had to value the political parties concerning aid to developing countries, defence issues, and EC policy. There were also a number of questions concerning the respondent's interest in theatre. Purpose: The main purpose is to establish time series that enable researchers to analyse how various changes in society affect people's attitudes and behaviour. The SOM Institute also has an online tool for data analysis, where you can work with data from the national SOM surveys directly in your web browser. You can find it at www.som-institutet/dataanalys