The broad objective of the study was to examine the political identifications and attitudes of adolescents and to relate these to a variety of aspects of their own experience. The survey, which was conducted in several West Midlands' schools amongst fifth formers in autumn 1979, tapped many aspects of political identification and beliefs such as party choice, knowledge of policies, attitudes towards the political system, political views, class identification, etc. Because of unanticipated political developments (i.e. growth in unemployment, rise of the SDP as a political force, high levels of support for the National Front) a second survey was carried out in the same schools in winter 1981/82, again among fifth formers. Although the questionnaire was changed and extended, the same basic variables were assessed.