WERS98 Data Dissemination Service

WIRS TIME-SERIES DATASET

The WIRS Time-Series Dataset is formed from the interviews with the main management respondent in each of the four cross-section surveys (1980, 1984, 1990 and 1998). The current version of the dataset (Version 1.2, Dec 2001) contains around 200 data items from throughout the 1998 management questionnaire for which there are also comparable items in at least one other previous cross-section survey in the WIRS series.  

None of the information obtained from interviews with other role-holders is currently incorporated in the dataset, except for those elements of the 1990 survey of financial managers in which selected questions from the main interview were asked of this respondent instead of the personnel manager.

This time-series dataset makes the most of the continuity present within the survey series by providing direct comparisons of employment relations practice at four specific points in time over the past two decades. It is therefore possible to investigate the degree of change or stability in the incidence of specific practices over time, both in aggregate and within particular sectors of the economy or types of workplace. One can also assess the extent to which historical relationships - such as that between workplace size and union presence, for example - have changed over the period of observation.

Published analyses based on the initial version of the dataset can be found in:

Millward N, Forth J and Bryson A (1999) "Changes in employment relations, 1980-1998", in M Cully, S Woodland, A O’Reilly and G Dix, Britain at Work: As Depicted by the 1998 Workplace Employee Relations Survey, London: Routledge.

 Millward N, Bryson A and Forth J (2000) All Change at Work? British Employment Relations 1980-1998, as portrayed by the Workplace Industrial Relations Survey series, London: Routledge.

Obtaining the dataset:

Copies of the dataset may be obtained from the UK Data Archive (dataset serial number : 4511).

This deposited version of the dataset (Version 1.2) is largely the same as the initial version used in the publications cited above (Version 1.1, which has not been deposited). However, a small number of improvements have been made to enhance the consistency of variable definitions and to expand the range of variables incorporated within the dataset.

The deposited dataset contains 222 consistently defined variables, comprising 180 data items that are present in the 1998 cross-section survey and at least one previous cross-section survey in the WIRS series, plus 42 derived variables. Nonetheless, there are undoubtedly some consistent data items which have not been included in either version and so the dataset is not guaranteed to be complete. A full list of variables contained within the dataset is provided in Appendix B of the Introductory Note (see below).

Further information:

An Introductory Note, which contains information on the construction of the dataset, is provided below. The Note can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat® Reader. Users without this software can download it free of charge from the Adobe web-site by following the pictorial link below the table.

The SPSS syntax files used to compile the Time-Series Dataset are also provided below. Those making use of the syntax for their own purposes are kindly requested to give the appropriate acknowledgements to the original authors. The Introductory Note should be read before attempting to use the syntax.

To view a document, follow its hyperlink. To download a document, right click on the hyperlink and this will give you the Save As option.

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WERS98 Data Dissemination Service
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Page last updated: 01 October 2002