Stories
(most recent first)
Time gentlemen please!
Because of Covid, pubs are now closing at 10pm, resulting in a furore of dismay and much controversy about loss of liberties...
It’s good to talk
For many people the telephone has been a great source of support during lockdown. Not only has it enabled us to keep...
Government control over our lives
As we endure the long months of Covid-19, it is clear from recent (Aug 2020) YouGov polls that the British people have...
Fancy a holiday abroad?
Taking a holiday abroad at the moment carries risks that we couldn’t have imagined a year ago. At a time when there’s...
Washing powder wars
Contained within the Archive is the story of the battle fought in the late 1960s between Lever Bros and Procter & Gamble...
A Bird’s Eye view of trends in convenience foods
Much has changed in the convenience food sector. But by being alert to trends, Birds Eye has maintained a market-leading position over...
The rise of the sandwich culture
To mark British Sandwich Week, 17-23 May, we have identified some issues relevant to the celebration which may be found in the...
How are we feeling?
Measuring the mood of the nation With lives and livelihoods both under threat at present, the mood of individuals has become a...
Don’t tell me what to do!
Any relaxations in lockdown restrictions, however cautious, shift the burden of responsibility a little towards individuals from government mandates. Data held within...
Not going out
Staying in is set to be our new reality, for however long it proves. Going for an evening out is off the...
The NHS: changing attitudes and expectations
With the nation applauding from their doorsteps, it is clear that belief in the care and capabilities of the NHS is now...
Fit for the future
As we hunker down, with most of us spending the majority of our time at home, it’s important to focus on our...
The hayfever phenomenon
The hayfever phenomenon Hayfever afflicts over three times as many of us today as it used to do. 27% of GB adults...
Lessons in Labour Leadership
Lessons in Labour Leadership With the 2020 Labour leadership contest reaching towards its climax in April, what lessons are there from the...
A simple measure of the growth in environmental awareness
A simple measure of the growth in environmental awareness The continuous consumer study TGI has asked for respondents’ opinions on a range...
The decline in reliance on experts (for product recommendations)
The decline in reliance on experts (for product recommendations) “People in this country have had enough of experts”, Michael Gove was famously...
In the UK, smacking the children was always for the parents to decide
In the UK, smacking the children was always for the parents to decide At the end of the long summer holiday, many...
Education Choices
Education choices Choosing schools: As our schools reassemble after the long summer break, we can look at attitudes towards parents’ choice of...
Binge drinking is OK for an increasing minority
Boozing with the boys – an increasing minority think it’s acceptable Most people disapprove of heavy drinking sessions, but there’s an increasing...
The rise of the MAMIL
The rise of MAMIL The MAMIL may be a recently-minted humorous acronym for a certain breed of cyclist – the ‘Middle-Aged Man...
The decline of tobacco and the growth of e-cigarettes
The decline of tobacco and the growth of e-cigarettes The decline in smoking in Britain has been happening for a long time....
Harris Poll Overview: 1969-1972
Harris Poll Overview, 1969-1972 By Peter Bartram Among the most relevant uses of the material in the Archive of Market and Social Research...
British reservations about Europe have been apparent for at least 50 years
British reservations about Europe have been apparent for at least 50 years Teresa May’s tenure as UK Prime Minister was characterised by...
The Meaning of Easter in 21st Century Britain: Chocolate not Christianity
The Meaning of Easter in 21st Century Britain: Chocolate not Christianity As we celebrate Easter, the most important Christian festival, survey research...
The Way We Were, 1938-1939
The Way We Were, 1938-1939: Times of Crisis By Peter Bartram Perhaps the earliest and most comprehensive measurement of British attitudes on...
Boomers are not the biggest boozers
Boomers are not the biggest boozers The ‘Boomer’ generation are often claimed to be the nation’s heaviest wine drinkers. Analysis of TGI...
Women in the Workplace
Women in the Workplace The Archive of Market and Social Research (AMSR) is collecting a record of research on behaviours, attitudes and...
How research help us understand loneliness
How research helps us to understand loneliness by Phyllis Vangelder For many, Valentine’s Day is an occasion for declarations of love. For others,...
Sponsorship of the Football World Cup in 1986
At the1987 MRS Annual Conference, whose papers are stored in the archive*, it was reported that Research International Specialist Units had conducted...
The Founding of Gallup International
Those interested in the historical perspectives of the polling industry may be interested to see in the Survey Magazine issue for Summer...
The Rationale for Investment in Gold
The World Gold Council’s Annual Review of 2017 asserts that there has been “a profound shift in sentiment and recognition of gold’s...
Perceptions of Contraception
Perceptions of contraception A report in the Autumn 1988 issue of Survey Magazine*, now freely accessible in the Archive, revealed the findings...
Obesity Concerns
An Autumn 1988 Survey Magazine article, now easily accessible in the Archive via www.amsr.org.uk shows that even 30 years ago UK obesity...
Happiness…but only in moderation
It’s not easy to move the happiness needle upwards. Thirty years of societal and economic changes have raised people’s expectations, but fewer...
Tracking the mood of the 1990s: the MORI Misery Index
“In Britain and all across Europe there seems to be a rising tide of pessimism and unhappiness” (MORI, ‘British Public Opinion’, July...
TGI archive nugget – no. 5
The victory of a new product format: Packet Tea and Tea Bags. When making tea, we almost all routinely reach for tea...
Upmarket consumers more likely to switch suppliers
With every media storm that erupts whenever a utility supplier announces a tariff increase, consumers are reminded to consider changing suppliers as...
Millennials and Boomers
Young adults’ concerns about debt are nothing new. Since the General Election, many commentators have been writing about differences in generational attitudes. ...
TGI Archive nugget – no. 4
Televisions and telephones in the 1970s When TGI was first published in 1969, ‘streaming’ referred to the cold for which you had...
Airlines aim to exploit changing holiday patterns
One of the headline stories in the sector this year has been the launch of sub-£200 travel from Britain to the US...
TGI archive nugget – no. 3
The Good Life: the impact of a TV sitcom on consumer behaviour. Examining trends can sometimes show influences from unexpected quarters. Take...
The Millennial challenge
Generational differences are sometimes considered one of the fault lines in Britain today, with the predicament of Millennials much discussed as a...
Healthy living
The MRS held a Seminar in February 2017 looking at health, fitness and wellbeing and what can be done to drive behaviour…
TGI archive nugget – no. 2
Fishpaste, Rice Pudding, Yoghurt, Pasta. Food usage reported by TGI in 1969 offers a picture of long-lived staples jostling for larder (or...
Sexual harassment – not new news
1992’s workforce knew very well what constituted sexual harassment. What was tolerated then is unacceptable now. Inappropriate behaviour in some high-profile environments...
The changing face of our eating habits
These days, any main street has a plethora of restaurants and cafes to suit every taste: in addition to Chinese and Indian...
TGI archive nugget – no. 1
Football watchers have now become a better reflection of society. 25 years on from the establishment of the Premier League and Sky...