The War-time Social Survey was established in April 1940, under the auspices of the National Institute for Economic and Social Research, to investigate questions of sociological importance. The staff, consisting of an editorial group of university personnel and a party of trained interviewers, was chosen by Arnold Plant, Professor of Commerce at London University. Among the Survey's earliest clients, however, were several government departments (the Board of Trade, the Ministry of Food, etc.), and before long the Survey was absorbed into the Home Intelligence Division of the Ministry of Information. From this time the work of the Survey broadened to include not only research into specific social and economic problems but also investigations of more general factors affecting public opinion and morale.
Concerned at the effects of this change in organization, in particular at the loss of independent scientific sponsorship, in August 1941 almost the entire body of staff resigned. Thereafter the Survey continued its work under the surveillance of the Ministry of Information and in closer accord with the needs of the Home Intelligence Division (see Public Record Office, INF 1/263, 273-281).
The work of the Survey within the Ministry was carried out in response to departmental directives. On instruction, the editors devised and arranged surveys and briefed interviewers. Interviewers, carrying printed questionnaires, investigated local opinion, and sent back to the editors records of their conversations and, on occasion, further explanatory reports. Using these returns, the editors compiled and issued to the appropriate departments their own final reports.
From the guide to the War-time Social Survey Papers, April 1940-September 1941; also a few earlier and later published items., (University of Sussex Library)
