Bobby Duffy
@bobbyduffy.bsky.social
Director, Policy Institute at King's College London and Chair of the Campaign for Social Science
Real mix of university and FE leaders in packed room for panel with Skills Minister on how we need to work together to deliver the skills strategy, great to do this jointly with @et-foundation.bsky.social @hepi-news.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social @policyatkings.bsky.social
September 30, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Real mix of university and FE leaders in packed room for panel with Skills Minister on how we need to work together to deliver the skills strategy, great to do this jointly with @et-foundation.bsky.social @hepi-news.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social @policyatkings.bsky.social
This is just very poor - and likely affects perceptions: we asked people to estimate what % of prisoners are foreign born in 2017, and average guess in GB was 34%, nearly 3x actual of 12% then (and now!)
Irresponsible to turn non-story into scary sounding headline @benpageresearch.bsky.social
Irresponsible to turn non-story into scary sounding headline @benpageresearch.bsky.social
August 1, 2025 at 12:32 PM
This is just very poor - and likely affects perceptions: we asked people to estimate what % of prisoners are foreign born in 2017, and average guess in GB was 34%, nearly 3x actual of 12% then (and now!)
Irresponsible to turn non-story into scary sounding headline @benpageresearch.bsky.social
Irresponsible to turn non-story into scary sounding headline @benpageresearch.bsky.social
Lord Grade on the clearly documented harms to children from online platforms “I don’t know how the tech leaders sleep at night. Maybe they just count the clicks” - key lecture at @strandgroup.bsky.social @policyatkings.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
July 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Lord Grade on the clearly documented harms to children from online platforms “I don’t know how the tech leaders sleep at night. Maybe they just count the clicks” - key lecture at @strandgroup.bsky.social @policyatkings.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
Brilliant panel of European university leaders in conversation with Alison Wolf on common and distinct challenges - such a variety of systems driven by long histories, but just about all facing political, leadership or financial crises @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social @policyatkings.bsky.social
June 12, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Brilliant panel of European university leaders in conversation with Alison Wolf on common and distinct challenges - such a variety of systems driven by long histories, but just about all facing political, leadership or financial crises @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social @policyatkings.bsky.social
Packed house for the great Prof Jim Fishkin talking about his new book on how deliberation can help cure the ills of democracy, joint event with @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social and @policyatkings.bsky.social
June 9, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Packed house for the great Prof Jim Fishkin talking about his new book on how deliberation can help cure the ills of democracy, joint event with @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social and @policyatkings.bsky.social
New study on long-term trends: we're only slightly more likely to say we'd like to settle in another country today than in 1948 - though fewer definitely against it.
More interesting is the notably higher figure for Reform voters - 60% would like to move abroad
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/homewor...
More interesting is the notably higher figure for Reform voters - 60% would like to move abroad
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/homewor...
April 18, 2025 at 9:03 AM
New study on long-term trends: we're only slightly more likely to say we'd like to settle in another country today than in 1948 - though fewer definitely against it.
More interesting is the notably higher figure for Reform voters - 60% would like to move abroad
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/homewor...
More interesting is the notably higher figure for Reform voters - 60% would like to move abroad
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/homewor...
...really notable how different this is across sexes - 51% of women say they struggle, just 30% of men. Well-known from studies of sleep that women struggle more from insomnia/disturbed sleep, for all sorts of biological and social reasons
@policyatkings.bsky.social @giwlkings.bsky.social
@policyatkings.bsky.social @giwlkings.bsky.social
April 18, 2025 at 8:52 AM
...really notable how different this is across sexes - 51% of women say they struggle, just 30% of men. Well-known from studies of sleep that women struggle more from insomnia/disturbed sleep, for all sorts of biological and social reasons
@policyatkings.bsky.social @giwlkings.bsky.social
@policyatkings.bsky.social @giwlkings.bsky.social
New study on very long trends: some things haven't changed since 1947 - 4 in 10 struggled to get up in the morning back then, exactly same as now. I feel vindicated that this seems to be just a constant human trait - BUT...
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/homewor...
@rentouljohn.bsky.social
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/homewor...
@rentouljohn.bsky.social
April 18, 2025 at 8:52 AM
New study on very long trends: some things haven't changed since 1947 - 4 in 10 struggled to get up in the morning back then, exactly same as now. I feel vindicated that this seems to be just a constant human trait - BUT...
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/homewor...
@rentouljohn.bsky.social
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/homewor...
@rentouljohn.bsky.social
This will be related to all sorts of shifts in realities and attitudes to gender equality (eg only c45% of women worked in late 1940s).
Also reflected in shifting roles in home - quarter of men never "helped" with housework in 1940s (even phrasing of question gives idea of cultural norm), now 4%
Also reflected in shifting roles in home - quarter of men never "helped" with housework in 1940s (even phrasing of question gives idea of cultural norm), now 4%
April 18, 2025 at 8:43 AM
This will be related to all sorts of shifts in realities and attitudes to gender equality (eg only c45% of women worked in late 1940s).
Also reflected in shifting roles in home - quarter of men never "helped" with housework in 1940s (even phrasing of question gives idea of cultural norm), now 4%
Also reflected in shifting roles in home - quarter of men never "helped" with housework in 1940s (even phrasing of question gives idea of cultural norm), now 4%
New study looking at very long trends: nearly 4 in 10 women said they would rather be a man in 1947, down to 9% today, though that's still twice as high as proportion of men who would rather be a woman...
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/homewor...
@giwlkings.bsky.social @policyatkings.bsky.social
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/homewor...
@giwlkings.bsky.social @policyatkings.bsky.social
April 18, 2025 at 8:43 AM
New study looking at very long trends: nearly 4 in 10 women said they would rather be a man in 1947, down to 9% today, though that's still twice as high as proportion of men who would rather be a woman...
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/homewor...
@giwlkings.bsky.social @policyatkings.bsky.social
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/homewor...
@giwlkings.bsky.social @policyatkings.bsky.social
Which is one of the key memories of public attitudes at the time, and actually throughout much of the pandemic - that we were very largely in favour of restrictions and had very little sense that "too much fuss" was being made, even if we hadn't quite grasped how long and painful it would be
April 6, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Which is one of the key memories of public attitudes at the time, and actually throughout much of the pandemic - that we were very largely in favour of restrictions and had very little sense that "too much fuss" was being made, even if we hadn't quite grasped how long and painful it would be
But a lot of us were already feeling the effects - half said they were more anxious/depressed, four in ten sleeping less well - and very few were doing things they'd been advised not to, like seeing family or friends
April 6, 2025 at 5:08 PM
But a lot of us were already feeling the effects - half said they were more anxious/depressed, four in ten sleeping less well - and very few were doing things they'd been advised not to, like seeing family or friends
... and 4 in 10 of us expected life to be back to "normal" in 6 months or less...
@policyatkings.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
@policyatkings.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
April 6, 2025 at 5:08 PM
... and 4 in 10 of us expected life to be back to "normal" in 6 months or less...
@policyatkings.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
@policyatkings.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
5 years ago this week we released our first major study on Covid and lockdown attitudes/behaviours. Understandably, we hadn't fully grasped how serious it would be - for example, the modal guess was we'd see up to 20k deaths, when excess deaths ended up 200k+...
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/life-un...
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/life-un...
April 6, 2025 at 5:08 PM
5 years ago this week we released our first major study on Covid and lockdown attitudes/behaviours. Understandably, we hadn't fully grasped how serious it would be - for example, the modal guess was we'd see up to 20k deaths, when excess deaths ended up 200k+...
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/life-un...
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/life-un...
And they also have nuanced/varied view on whether the increase is "real" vs better/over diagnosis, and whether it's weak kids or tougher circumstances for young. There's little sign here of strong belief in "snowflake" narrative, or that being better at identifying = bad thing
March 24, 2025 at 2:53 PM
And they also have nuanced/varied view on whether the increase is "real" vs better/over diagnosis, and whether it's weak kids or tougher circumstances for young. There's little sign here of strong belief in "snowflake" narrative, or that being better at identifying = bad thing
What do the public think is driving the increase in mental ill health among young people? Given all focus on phones/ social media, might think that would dominate - but the public don't see one simple cause, in Canada, UK or Australia - a real mix here...
@policyatkings.bsky.social @orygen.org.au
@policyatkings.bsky.social @orygen.org.au
March 24, 2025 at 2:53 PM
What do the public think is driving the increase in mental ill health among young people? Given all focus on phones/ social media, might think that would dominate - but the public don't see one simple cause, in Canada, UK or Australia - a real mix here...
@policyatkings.bsky.social @orygen.org.au
@policyatkings.bsky.social @orygen.org.au
A similar question from World Values Survey shows this isn't just a "Gen Z problem", Millennials (now c30-45 years old) are even more negative and seen a big increase in saying "not proud". This isn't just an issue for youngest but something wider
@kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
@kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
March 23, 2025 at 7:39 PM
A similar question from World Values Survey shows this isn't just a "Gen Z problem", Millennials (now c30-45 years old) are even more negative and seen a big increase in saying "not proud". This isn't just an issue for youngest but something wider
@kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
@kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
The Times series comparing views of young people in 2004 and 2024 is very good - better than lots of snapshot surveys on Gen Z, as shows real change. But it's still only part of the picture - take this collapse in pride in Britain, which saw a lot of discussion... @policyatkings.bsky.social
March 23, 2025 at 7:39 PM
The Times series comparing views of young people in 2004 and 2024 is very good - better than lots of snapshot surveys on Gen Z, as shows real change. But it's still only part of the picture - take this collapse in pride in Britain, which saw a lot of discussion... @policyatkings.bsky.social
Hmm, yes - 52% of Gen Z agreeing we need "strong leaders not bothering with elections" would be a huge jump, as Chris says. Here's World Values Survey trend, where 27% agree, half the level. Do worry about rhetoric around this - does set tone that Gen Z are a big break, which can gain own momentum
January 27, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Hmm, yes - 52% of Gen Z agreeing we need "strong leaders not bothering with elections" would be a huge jump, as Chris says. Here's World Values Survey trend, where 27% agree, half the level. Do worry about rhetoric around this - does set tone that Gen Z are a big break, which can gain own momentum
And again Reform supporters keenly aware of this, as much as Labour supporters. May point to need to understand the link between economic and cultural dimensions of class better, eg liberal elite as well as extreme wealth
January 23, 2025 at 3:53 PM
And again Reform supporters keenly aware of this, as much as Labour supporters. May point to need to understand the link between economic and cultural dimensions of class better, eg liberal elite as well as extreme wealth
And we're MORE likely to think there's a class struggle in UK than in 1964. May seem surprising because talk of "class" drowned out by culture war issues, but fits with other work on increasing concern about economic and power inequalities
@kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
@kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
January 23, 2025 at 3:53 PM
And we're MORE likely to think there's a class struggle in UK than in 1964. May seem surprising because talk of "class" drowned out by culture war issues, but fits with other work on increasing concern about economic and power inequalities
@kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
@kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
...breakdown between party supporters interesting.
No surprise that Reform supporters more in favour of US as allies - but they're also least keen on being a world power. More isolationist than harking back to global power past...
No surprise that Reform supporters more in favour of US as allies - but they're also least keen on being a world power. More isolationist than harking back to global power past...
January 23, 2025 at 3:53 PM
...breakdown between party supporters interesting.
No surprise that Reform supporters more in favour of US as allies - but they're also least keen on being a world power. More isolationist than harking back to global power past...
No surprise that Reform supporters more in favour of US as allies - but they're also least keen on being a world power. More isolationist than harking back to global power past...
Second, completely reversed view since 1964 on whether we should try to be a world power or "more like Sweden or Switzerland"
Diminished ambitions are maybe predictable, but...
Diminished ambitions are maybe predictable, but...
January 23, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Second, completely reversed view since 1964 on whether we should try to be a world power or "more like Sweden or Switzerland"
Diminished ambitions are maybe predictable, but...
Diminished ambitions are maybe predictable, but...
Love updating old polls - new pack out today, with @rentouljohn.bsky.social
First, completely reversed preference for Europe over US as allies since 1967. The q isn't asking about "trade partners", the "if you ever had to choose allies" implies more serious situation
@policyatkings.bsky.social
First, completely reversed preference for Europe over US as allies since 1967. The q isn't asking about "trade partners", the "if you ever had to choose allies" implies more serious situation
@policyatkings.bsky.social
January 23, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Love updating old polls - new pack out today, with @rentouljohn.bsky.social
First, completely reversed preference for Europe over US as allies since 1967. The q isn't asking about "trade partners", the "if you ever had to choose allies" implies more serious situation
@policyatkings.bsky.social
First, completely reversed preference for Europe over US as allies since 1967. The q isn't asking about "trade partners", the "if you ever had to choose allies" implies more serious situation
@policyatkings.bsky.social