Unemployment back and forth: evolution of the Spanish public opinion about social problems during three decades (1985-2014)

Abstract

Considering the analysis of social problems as a central matter in the sociological tradition, this article presents an analysis of the public opinion on the social problems faced in Spain for over three decades, based on data collected through The surveys of the Center for Sociological Research (CIS).The article is divided into four sections; the first consists of brief review about the aim of study of social problems in the sociological tradition, and includes a classification or characterization of the currently most widespread categories of problems in social research. The second section presents an analysis of the public opinion on the problems in the Spanish society from the 80’s until today, taking as empirical reference the CIS barometer surveys. The third section initiates the discussion about the changes observed in the perception of the social problems in the Spanish society during this period, by giving different interpretations and theoretical references that contribute to line out the meaning and consequences of these problems. And finally a last section of conclusions.