ABSTRACT
Psephology (the study of voting behaviour) has a long and interesting history. Studies in this field aim to provide explanations for voting behaviour that can be applied to the majority of citizens over a period of time. Some claim that research in this field has produced models that provide explanations of the voting habits of the UK citizen. Others argue that much of this work is full of contradictions and does not stand up to critical scrutiny. Perhaps of even more concern to the student of citizenship is that some believe that a consequence of work in this field is the production of very broad generalisations or stereotypes of voting patterns that have subsequently become part of UK culture. Students of citizenship should realise that the work in this field, which has produced models and knowledge about voting behaviour, must be seen as temporary, not permanent. Since nobody knows the result of the next election, there is a strong possibility that models of voting behaviour and conclusions about voting behaviour are destined to be irrelevant on the declaration of the result.
