A History of the Ministry of Information, 1939-46
THE SAMPLE
The sample was designed to represent the adult civilian population which was defined as all civilians aged fourteen or over with the exception of those still at school.
Representative quotas of men and women in different occupation groups were set for each of the twelve Civil Defence Regions, the number interviewed in each region being proportionate to its population.
A total of 5639 people were interviewed. These were distributed as shown below.
(1) Sex
(2) Age
| Men | Women | Total | |
| % | % | % | |
| 14 - 17 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| 18-40 | 34 | 49 | 42 |
| 41 - 45 | 15 | 11 | 13 |
| 46 - 65 | 36 | 25 | 30 |
| Over 65 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| No information | - | 1 | 1 |
| Sample: | 2491 | 3148 | 5639 |
The age distribution of men is, of course, affected by the fact that large numbers in the middle age groups are in the Forces and are, therefore, excluded from the sample.
(3) Economic Grou p
| Wage rate of chief earner in family | % | |
| Up to £5- | Lower | 75 |
| Over £5 up to £10. | Middle | 20 |
| Over £10. | Upper | 5 |
| Sample. | 5639 |
(4) Education
| Last school attended | % 70 |
| Elementary | 66 |
| Secondary or Technical | 26 |
| University | 2 |
| Other type | 2 |
| No information | 4 |
| Sample: | 5639 |
(5) Occupation
(
(6) Region
| % | |
| Scotland | 11 |
| North | 6 |
| North-West | 14 |
| North-East | 9 |
| North-Midlands | 7 |
| Midlands | 9 |
| Wales | 6 |
| East Anglia | 6 |
| South | 6 |
| South-West | 7 |
| South-East | 4 |
| London | 15 |
| Sample | 5639 |