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Award/Grant Name: Fertility Variations in Scotland: Socio-Cultural Attitudes and Interactions
Award/Grant Holder: Dr Ian Dey
Co-applicant(s): Ms Catherine Bromley, Professor Lynn Jamieson, Professor Paul Boyle, Professor Kathryn Backett-Milburn, Dr Elspeth Graham, Professor Frances Wasoff
Start Date: 01/03/2005 End Date: 30/11/2006
Award/Grant Description

In 2002 Scotland had a total fertility rate of 1.48, well below replacement rate though not atypical of low fertility rates across the EU. The General Register Office for Scotland has identified Scotland's low fertility  as a major contributory factor in population ageing and decline.  Fertility rates vary considerably between different areas of the country. 

This project investigates local differences in fertility in relation to both individual attitudes and interactions with others (eg parents, peers, neighbours).  It has two main aims:

  1. To increase our understanding of attitudes to fertility and their relationship to fertility behaviour within Scotland;
  2. To investigate the influence of socio-cultural interactions on fertility attitudes and behaviour.

The study involves a module on fertility incorporated into the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey, augmented by local geographic data.  The questions are being developed by the research team and the Scottish Centre for Social Research in consultation with the Scottish Executive. 

The study will survey a sample of about 800 persons, comprising men aged 18-49 and women 18-44.  By linking socio-economic data on local contexts with evidence on individual attitudes and social interactions the project will further theoretical understanding of fertility variations while generating insights relevant to policy.

Keywords: fertility variations; Scotland; socio-cultural attitudes; socio-cultural interactions
Award/Grant Amount ESRC Grant Number Institution Discipline Award/Grant Type
£56,207.30 RES-342-25-0015 Sociology Substantive Research Contract
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Press Kit

Award/Grant Outputs and Documents

Click on Download to download the document. Number of Documents: 4
  Title Type URL Author Published
Plain English Summary Plain English Summary , 29/06/2007 15:16
Wearing out the work ethic : population ageing, fertility and work–life balance Journal Article Dey, Ian 23/04/2007 14:54
Full research report Full Research Report Dey, Ian 29/03/2007 11:38
Non technical summary Research Summary Dey, Ian 29/03/2007 11:37