ARK is a joint initiative between Queen’s and Ulster University. 

The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey, which focuses on the opinion of adults in Northern Ireland, was set-up 1998. In 2003, the Young Life and Times (YLT) began monitoring the attitudes of 16 year olds; and in 2008, the Kids’ Life and Times (KLT) started recording the opinion of 10-11 year olds. 

The three surveys cover a wide range of issues that affect the lives of people of all ages living in Northern Ireland, including: community relations, abortion, sport and physical activity, ageing and ageism, same sex-equality, racial prejudice, children’s rights and views; and social care.

Over the past 20 years, the key findings from the surveys include: 

• In 1998, around half of NILT respondents thought it was not at all or only sometimes wrong to have an abortion if there was a strong chance of a serious defect in the baby. By 2016, over 80 per cent of respondents thought that the law should definitely or probably allow abortion where a foetus had a fatal abnormality
• In 2001, 28 per cent of NILT respondents thought that relations between Catholics and Protestants were better than in the previous five years. In 2017, this increased to 49 per cent of respondents
• In 2013, 59 per cent of NILT respondents supported same-sex marriage
• In 2014, 49 per cent of 16 year olds taking part in the YLT, but only 28 per cent of the 10-11 year olds taking part in the KLT, had heard of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
• In 2015, 63 per cent of NILT respondents supported the idea of a special tax collected over everyone’s lifetime to ensure care when needed would be provided free at the point of use
• In 2017, 72 per cent of NILT respondents felt that that society doesn’t recognise the contribution that many older people are still able to make.

The survey data has played an important role in shaping and evaluating key public policies, such as those relating to community relations and racial equality, and have consistently informed public and political debate, including in highly contested policy areas. 

Professor Adrienne Scullion, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast, commented: “The ARK survey series gave the people of Northern Ireland a voice when they didn’t necessarily have one. A key strength of the surveys is that they are flexible and can focus on new topics as they arise.

“We hope that the surveys will continue into the future, providing important evidence of public opinion in Northern Ireland across all age groups, and contributing to public policy and academic debates.”

Speaking about the importance of the surveys, Professor Paddy Nixon, Vice-Chancellor and President of Ulster University, said: “Research that has a tangible impact on the real lives of the people of Northern Ireland and beyond is part of the DNA of Ulster University. The Life and Times Surveys have been a vital barometer of public attitudes to the key social and political issues here, making an important contribution to significant civic discussions.

"They are an excellent example of the long-standing collaboration between Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University, working together for the good of our local communities and people living across Northern Ireland.”

Since ARK’s inception in 1998 over 87, 237 adults, young people and children have taken part in the three surveys, which gave the people of Northern Ireland a voice and provided vital evidence about their attitudes and beliefs throughout the years. 

For more information on the ARK survey series and to read the full publication, please visit: http://www.ark.ac.uk/ARK/publications/books

Media

Media enquiries to Zara McBrearty at Queen’s Communications Office on +44 (0)28 9097 3259 or email: z.mcbrearty@qub.ac.uk.