The effect of higher education on attitudes

BIS RESEARCH PAPER NO. 200

The effect of Higher Education on graduates' attitudes: Secondary Analysis of the British Social Attitudes Survey

NOVEMBER 2015

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The effect of higher education on attitudes

This report was prepared by John Brennan (The Open University), Jenny Chanfreau, Jerome Finnegan, Julia Griggs, Zsolt Kiss and Alison Park (NatCen Social Research) for the Department of Business innovation and Skills.

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The effect of higher education on attitudes

Contents

Contents ........................................................................................................................................ 2 Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 6 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 9

1.1 Background ...................................................................................................................... 9 1.2 Project aims .................................................................................................................... 10 2 Methodology........................................................................................................................ 11 2.1 Analysis methods............................................................................................................ 11 2.2 The data ......................................................................................................................... 12

2.2.1 The British Social Attitudes survey........................................................................... 12 2.2.2 Key measures: Attitudes .......................................................................................... 13 2.2.3 Key measures: educational level ............................................................................. 16 How do people's attitudes vary according to their level of education?.................................. 17 3 Politics ................................................................................................................................. 18 3.1 Political engagement....................................................................................................... 18 3.2 Political interest ............................................................................................................ 20 3.3 Political efficacy .............................................................................................................. 22 3.3.1 Personal efficacy .................................................................................................... 23 3.3.2 System efficacy........................................................................................................ 24 3.4 Political trust ................................................................................................................... 26 3.5 Summary: politics ........................................................................................................... 27 4 Environment ........................................................................................................................ 29 4.1 Environmental knowledge ............................................................................................... 29 4.2 Environmental concern ................................................................................................... 31

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The effect of higher education on attitudes

4.3 Environmental action ...................................................................................................... 35 4.4 Summary: environment................................................................................................... 40 5 Gender roles and personal relationships .......................................................................... 42 5.1 Gender roles ................................................................................................................... 42 5.2 Personal relationships..................................................................................................... 46 5.3 Summary: gender roles and relationships ....................................................................... 48 6 Immigration ......................................................................................................................... 50 6.1 Immigration control ......................................................................................................... 50 6.2 Effect of Immigration ....................................................................................................... 52 6.3 International students...................................................................................................... 55 6.4 Summary: attitudes to immigration.................................................................................. 57 7 Welfare benefits .................................................................................................................. 58 7.1 Welfare benefits.............................................................................................................. 58 7.2 Summary: welfare benefits.............................................................................................. 63 8 National Identity .................................................................................................................. 65 8.1 National Identity .............................................................................................................. 65 8.2 Britishness ...................................................................................................................... 67 8.3 National support.............................................................................................................. 71 Summary: National identity and support .................................................................................... 73 9 Entrepreneurship ................................................................................................................ 75 9.1 Starting a business ......................................................................................................... 75 9.2 Summary: entrepreneurship............................................................................................ 78 10 Concluding comments........................................................................................................ 79 11 References........................................................................................................................... 81 Appendix A: Constructing the education variables.................................................................. 83

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The effect of higher education on attitudes

Appendix B: List of indicators included in the Stage one analysis......................................... 87 Appendix C: Regression tables ................................................................................................. 95 Appendix D: The changing effect of higher education over time .......................................... 151

11.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 151 11.2 Methodology.............................................................................................................. 152

11.2.1 Explanatory variables............................................................................................. 152 11.2.2 Multilevel analysis .................................................................................................. 153 11.2.3 Path analysis ......................................................................................................... 154 11.3 Findings: Multilevel modelling analysis ...................................................................... 155 11.3.1 Interest in politics (1985 to 2013) ........................................................................... 155 11.3.2 Attitudes towards same sex relationships (1985 to 2013) ...................................... 158 11.3.3 Attitudes towards benefit claimants (1985 to 2013) ................................................ 161 11.4 Findings: Path analysis ............................................................................................. 165 11.4.1 Interest in politics ................................................................................................... 165 11.4.2 Attitudes towards same sex relationships .............................................................. 169 11.4.3 Attitudes towards benefit claimants........................................................................ 170

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