Institute of Development Studies

UK Public Opinion Monitor

'Understanding UK Public Opinion on Development'

IDS hosts the UK Public Opinion Monitor (UKPOM) - a unique initiative aimed at understanding how people view life in the UK and what drives changes in their attitudes over time.

The UK Public Opinion Monitor is a longitudinal panel of 6,000 people from across the UK that is broadly representative of the demographic make-up of the UK population by gender, age, level of education and region. Members of the panel receive an internet-based survey every six to eight weeks.

While the primary interest of IDS is in attitudes towards development issues, the panel aims to position these within broader views on economic, political and social issues. This is the first time that a long-term panel of the general public has been used to explore attitudes towards development in the UK, and in this sense the results provide a unique insight into the state of public opinion. This is because, critically, the UK Public Opinion Monitor enables us to track changes in attitudes of identified individuals, rather than separate samples of (different) people that have similar characteristics. This will enable the drivers of changes in attitudes towards development to be tracked over time, which has not previously been possible.

On the subject of public attitudes to development, the UKPOM is seeking to answer the following questions:

• How do attitudes towards development vary across the UK population and change over time?
• What are the key drivers of attitudes towards development?
• How do attitudes towards development influence the level and nature of support for aid to developing countries?
• How can donors, development NGOs and others communicate most effectively with the public on development issues?

The first report of the UK Public Opinion Monitior, Aid to Developing Countries: Where does the UK Public Stand? was published on 8 September 2010.  Download a copy of the full report now: Aid to Developing Countries: Where does the UK Public Stand?

The second report of the UK Public Opinion Monitor, What Should Drive Aid to Developing Countries? was published on 10 December 2010. Download a copy of the full report now: What Should Drive UK Aid to Developing Countries?

The third report of the UK Public Opinion Monitor, What Does the Public Think, Know and Do about Aid and Development? was published on 20 October 2011. Download a copy of the full report now: What Does the Public Think, Know and Do about Aid and Development?

• IDS key contact: Johanna Lindstrom
• Project dates: February 2010 - Ongoing
• Project status: Open

Researchers

• Spencer Henson
• Johanna Lindstrom

Partner Organisations

• University of Guelph

Selected Outputs

• Henson, S. and Lindstrom, J. (2011) ''A Mile Wide and an Inch Deep'? Understanding Support for Aid', Draft IDS Working Paper , Brighton: IDS
• Lindstrom, J. and Henson, S. (2011) 'What Does the Public Think, Know and Do about Aid and Development?' , Brighton: IDS
• Henson, S. and Lindstrom, S. (2010) 'What Should Drive UK Aid to Developing Countries? Results and Analysis from the UK Public Opinion Monitor' , Brighton: IDS
• Henson, S. and Lindstrom, J. (2010) 'Aid to Developing Countries: Where does the UK Public Stand?' , Brighton: IDS
• Henson, S., Lindstrom, J. and Haddad, L. with Mulmi, R. (2010) 'Public Perceptions of International Development and Support for Aid in the UK: Results of a Qualitative Enquiry' , Brighton: IDS
• Henson, S. and Lindstrom, J. (2009) 'Making the Case for Aid: The Challenge of UK Public Perceptions', IDS In Focus Policy Briefings 12, Brighton: IDS

Selected News

• Only 1 in 5 people feel informed about the aid given by the UK Government to developing countries
• UK public say human rights should be key factor determining UK aid
• UK public say development aid is morally right, but should be cut to deal with the budget deficit