Great British Class Survey facts for kids

The Great British Class Survey was a big survey about social class in the United Kingdom. It was carried out in 2011 by the BBC, a well-known British broadcasting company. The results of this survey were shared online on April 2, 2013. About 160,000 people living in Britain took part in the survey. Most of them lived in Britain and said they were white.

What is Social Class?

Social class is a way of describing different groups of people in a society. These groups are often based on things like what kind of job someone has, how much money they earn, or their education. It's about how people fit into the bigger picture of society. Thinking about social class helps us understand how different groups of people live and work.

Why Study Social Class?

People study social class to learn more about society and how it works. Understanding different groups can help us see how opportunities might be different for people. It can also show how people's lives are shaped by their jobs, education, and where they live. The BBC wanted to explore how social class is seen in modern Britain. They wanted to see if old ideas about class still fit today.

How the Survey Worked

The Great British Class Survey was one of the largest studies of its kind. It asked 160,000 people across Britain many questions. These questions were about their jobs, their education, their income, and even their hobbies. The survey also asked about who they knew and what kind of social activities they enjoyed. This helped researchers get a full picture of people's lives.

What the Survey Found

After looking at all the answers, the researchers found that British society might have more than the traditional three classes (upper, middle, and working class). They suggested there were actually seven different groups. These groups were based on a mix of economic, social, and cultural factors. For example, some groups had lots of money and connections, while others had less. The survey helped people think differently about how society is organized. It showed that class is more complex than many people thought.