Northern Ireland Election Study 2015-16

Start date: 1 March 2015
End date: 28 February 2016
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Co-investigators: Professor Jocelyn Evans
External co-investigators: J Tonge and P Shirlow (University of Liverpool); B Hayes (University of Aberdeen); P Mitchell (London School of Economics and Political Science).

The study was designed to examine the basis of people’s party choice at the 2015 Westminster election: Why did they vote for a particular party? What are the religious, social class, economic and other key variables in determining voting patterns at the election? Is there any sign of a thawing of the ethno-national divide? What were the main issues at the election for voters? Did some voters switch parties and if so, why?