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Contact us:

Phone: +44 (0)1273 337515

Email: moa@sussex.ac.uk

For current Mass Observers

This page provides links to directive questions, flyers and other material that are normally included in our Directive mailouts. You may wish to bookmark this page for future reference.

You will need Adobe Acrobat software to download these items. Adobe Acrobat is free to download from the internet.

The Spring 2018 (Directive number 111)

download icon  Download the Spring 2018 Directive

The Mass Observation Bulletin 

download icon  Download the Spring 2018 edition of the Bulletin

The Friends form

download icon  Find out how you can support the Archive

Write for us

about mass observation
 

Become a Mass Observer

Join our Panel of Mass Observers and start receiving Directives.                                                                                                                Image taken by Humphrey Spender and copyright of Bolton Council.

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FAQ

In this section you will find the answers to the frequently asked questions about becoming an observer for Mass Observation.

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Application form

Apply to become a Mass Observer.

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Current Directive

Discover what our Panel of Mass Observers are currently writing about.

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12thMay
 

12th May

Send us your 12th May diary.

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Become a Mass Observer

We send a panel of writers three themed Directives each year on both opinion based and personal topics; from thoughts on education, close relationships, Eurovision to the NHS. Have a look at the current Directive if you would like to see an example of what you would be asked to do. 

Correspondents may email, type or write by hand, draw, send photographs, diagrams, cuttings from the press, poems, stories, letters and so on. No stress is placed on "good grammar", spelling or style. The emphasis is on self-expression, candour and a willingness to be a vivid social commentator, and tell a good story.

Help give an insight into everyday life

Mass Observation places a value on subjective experience, and descriptively rich material which can offer insights into everyday life. If you're interested in becoming an observer, look at our recruitment criteria below and read the frequently asked questions.

Recruitment criteria

Due to high demand we are currently only recruiting male writers who are aged 16-44, living in all regions of the UK except the South East. We do accept applications from people who meet two of the three criteria (for example, we would accept female writers aged between 16-44, living in the North), but due to limited resources we are sadly unable to accept all applicants. Please do not apply unless you meet at least two of the three criteria.

The recruitment criteria will change periodically - please check our website from time to time for regular updates. If you are unsure, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before applying.

What happens if you are accepted on the project?

You will then be registered on our database. We will ask you to:

  • Write a Self Portrait

This can be as long or as short as you wish but it should serve to introduce you to us. You should include your year of birth and your sex, your address, your occupation and some indication of your home life (whether you are married or single, who shares your home and so forth). After that, it is up to you. This Self Portrait is not made public until 50 years later - so you can write as freely as you like.

  • Complete and return a Biographical Information form

This will provide a very basic outline for researchers. This form will be made available to researchers so you should not include your name.

  • Send us a recent photo of yourself

Attach a note giving your name, the date the photo was taken and where, and if possible, who took it. This will be kept with your Self Portrait and not made available for research for 50 years.

  • Complete and return the copyright form

We ask you to do this so that we have a proper understanding with you about the use of your contributions. See the frequently asked questions for further information on copyright and privacy. Once you are on our mailing list, we allocate you a unique number - your M-O number - which you should use on your directive replies instead of your name.

How to join

Once you have read the details about taking part please fill in our online application form.

 

Frequently asked questions


Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about becoming an observer for Mass Observation. Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you can't find the answer to your question below.

 What does taking part involve?

We hope you will reply to our Directives. These are normally sent out to you three times a year. They usually contain two or three different topics on which we would like you to report in the light of your own experience, including what you see and hear going on around you. The Directive is often made up of questions but it should not be treated as a questionnaire because it is most definitely not intended to be one. You can write as much or as little as you wish in reply.

Always include a "mini-biography" at the start of each part of your Directive. It is very helpful for researchers to see your age, occupation, where you live and your marital status. It saves them looking you up on our lists; it means that the information they use about you is up-to-date and it gives you control over how much you want to say about yourself.

How much you contribute depends mainly on how you feel and what you have time for. As our resources are limited, if you do not keep in touch with us for a year we will stop sending you Directives

How much should I write?

That depends entirely on you. We are never going to say that you've written too much or too little but we'd rather you wrote one or two lines than nothing at all. Don't worry about rambling or going off at a tangent. We know that some subjects inspire some people and leave others cold.

You must feel free to pick and choose and to write about your own experience. Stories about things that have happened to you are of special interest. Do remember, all the same, that 'negative reporting' is always valuable. When we had a Directive on cars and drivers, for example, it was important we heard from non-drivers as well as drivers. If you decide not to answer a particular Directive, or a particular part of a Directive, we like to know why. Is it lack of time? Lack of interest? Ill health? Or are there other reasons related to your feelings about the topic?

What kind of paper shall I use?

Any kind of paper, including the back of junk mail (but please remember to delete any identifiable information on the reverse of your contribution). If you are emailing, if possible, you should send it as a word document or a PDF.

We ask only that you always start a new section of your Directive reply on a new piece of paper so that the different topics can be detached and filed separately.

Must reports be typed?

No. They can be handwritten, typed, word-processed or spoken on to audiotape.

Can I send in tapes or videos?

Yes, although it would be helpful to discuss this with staff at the Mass Observation Archive by email or letter first.

Can I send in other pieces of writing, for example, diaries?

We no longer actively seek diaries and they are harder for us to manage but if you are a keen diarist, please send it in. We are also pleased to accept contributions on topics which we have not been able to cover in Directives. This could be a personal experience (for example, a holiday, an illness, a birth or death, an incident at work or in your community) or it may be your feelings about current issues and events. We will file them separately under the subject heading.

But a special plea....

Please don't send in large parcels of material without checking with us first. Our space is limited and we must only accept donations of material if they are closely related to our concerns. So if you find your grandmother's diary in the attic, please do think of us (and please don't throw it away!) but contact us to check that we can accept it. If you usually use our FREEPOST system please think twice before sending parcels costing over £5 in postage, or several small items which would be cheaper sent together.

Do you want newspaper cuttings or printed material?

Not usually. They are bulky and difficult to preserve. Newspapers are stored in larger libraries so we feel that it is important not to fill up our precious space with material that can be obtained elsewhere. However, we are interested in the occasional cutting if it is relevant to the piece you are writing, or where it illustrates a point. And we are happy to accept leaflets, photographs, labels, menus, adverts, cartoons, drawings, maps, diagrams and any other "visual aids" where they relate to your response.

Is there a deadline?

We don't usually specify a deadline unless we have a researcher in the Archive who is in a hurry to see the material. It is helpful to us if you send in your reply before the next Directive is due, say within 3 or 4 months. Occasionally, however, you may not have the time or inclination to write for a while, and we are still pleased to accept Directive replies which arrive late or in bulk.

Will I receive an acknowledgement?

We always try to ensure that you are told that your post has been safely received - if possible within four weeks of receiving it, though there are times when it can take longer. We produce a standard acknowledgement letter with some of the latest news to keep you in touch. Staff at the Archive may write to you personally if an individual reply is required. If you are ever concerned about safe receipt, please tell us or add a SAE to your envelope.

Does it matter if I reply late or even miss a Directive?

No. Sometimes correspondents are too busy to reply - or maybe they don't feel inspired by the theme of the Directive. This is fine, although we are always interested to know if you don't like the Directive and why. However, if you haven't been in touch with us for a year we will stop sending you Directives - we simply haven't got the resources to keep sending them out and we don't want to become a nuisance to someone who has lost interest. If you stop hearing from us, it is probably because over a year has elapsed since your last contact with us. If you write in, we can immediately re-instate you. On the other hand, if you do want to stop writing for us, please write and tell us why. It would save us postage and a lot of work.

Who sees my contributions?

When your contributions reach the Archive, they are opened, checked and recorded by staff at the Archive. We unfortunately do not have the time to read all your contributions in depth, but most are read very carefully by a wide range of researchers including academics from different disciplines, for example, sociologists, psychologists, historians and geographers. We also have visits from students, school children and the media.

How is my material made available to researchers?

Replies to the Directives are made available to researchers as soon as we can get them ready. They are boxed up in batches according to the section of the directive. So there are boxes on our shelves labelled "Gulf War", "General Election 1997", "The Lottery", "Close Relationships", "Charles and Camilla" and so on. Inside the boxes, the replies are arranged in folders in MO number order. It is worth remembering that many researchers only see the writing you do in reply to one particular directive, so don't worry about repeating information which you gave in an earlier directive reply.

Researchers visit the reading rooms at The Keep. They are given basic information about each person (age, sex, marital status, current occupation and town of residence) so that they can set your writing in a social context. They are also shown the actual Directives and background information about the whole Project. Researchers are told that access to the material depends upon their respecting people's confidentiality and we keep a careful check on who sees the material and the ways it is used. Some researchers are also MO correspondents, by the way. Any MO correspondents can become researchers and visit whenever they wish by making an appointment.

How can I be sure that my privacy is respected?

We are very careful about the privacy of our correspondents. We issue everyone with a number. We ask you to write your number (rather than your name) on all your replies to Directives. Only members of the Archive staff can link your number to your name.

To increase your privacy, we strongly encourage you to use initials or made-up names for the people you mention, and to do your best not to inadvertently identify yourself within your reply.

Your self portrait, your photograph, any letters or diaries, and any other very personal material you send us, are all covered by a 50 year embargo. You can ask for a longer embargo if you wish - or a shorter one. Fifty years from the date of leaving the project seems to satisfy most people's needs for privacy. It is only fair to say, however, that in the last analysis, no information is truly secure. If you send in information about illicit activities, the Archive might not be able to protect your privacy any more than a priest or doctor could.

Can my friends or members of my family read what I send to you?

We do not automatically allow friends or relatives to see your contributions, even if they are close family members. If you wish to ensure that your members of your family see what you have written either during your lifetime, or afterwards, we suggest you keep your own copies.

If you are happy for your family members to read what you have written, please write and say so. It is helpful for us to have your wishes on file. If we don't hear from you on this question, in writing, we shall assume that your contributions should remain completely anonymous, and we will do our best to ensure that even your nearest and dearest do not see your writing under your name.

Can my Mass Observation writings be published?

Most use of the Archive is by students for their essays, dissertations and theses. More senior scholars use the material for articles in journals or in teaching materials.

Sometimes we are asked for permission to use extracts from the Archive in books, films, TV or radio programmes. Providing mutually satisfactory agreements are made, the Trustees of the Archive are normally able to give their consent. In fact, the Archive depends on the income it receives from the fees and royalties from the publication of the early papers. Formal contracts with authors and publishers are negotiated for the Archive by our literary agent In London so you can be sure that our interests are professionally protected.

We therefore decided to ask our current correspondents to share the copyright of their MO writing with the Archive. You will receive a form about this. There is no obligation to share copyright but it is a way of ensuring that we have a formal agreement with you. Most requests to quote are for very small passages. Every precaution is taken to ensure that no identifiable information appears in public unless you have given your written permission.

Do you need more recruits?

We are constantly developing the Project and we try to attract people from sections of society who are under-represented among our correspondents. We have a changing recruitment policy depending on the make up of the writing panel and this is announced on our website. If you know someone who is very keen to join us, and they meet our recruitment criteria, please ask them to write to us themselves. We prefer to hear from them directly.

Can I go public on being a Mass Observer?

Of course. It is up to you if you want to "come out" as a Mass Observer. However, please do not advertise on our behalf without checking with us. If you decide to write about being a Mass Observer for the local paper, or in the newsletter of an organisation, or get interviewed by local radio, please emphasise that you are talking/writing in a personal capacity.

If more information is required, you should refer the journalist/interviewer to the Mass Observation Archive. In the past, enthusiastic Mass Observers have sometimes prompted new volunteers to contact us with overwhelming results. We need to plan for the staff resources and the budget for to cope with a sudden influx of new correspondents. We don't like turning people away - and even apologising takes time and costs money!

By the way, if you are in the paper, on the radio or TV, or writing or speaking publically about Mass Observation, please let us know. If possible, send us a copy of your speech.

Do you accept "one-off" directive replies from friends and relatives of correspondents?

From time to time, people do send us a directive reply written by somebody else. We are very pleased to accept these contributions but they can cause us problems over copyright and confidentiality. If you want to enclose extra replies, please ask the person to:

  • Write on separate sheets of paper from your reply
  • Include a note of their sex, age, occupation and town/village of residence
  • Attach a statement signed by the writer saying that they make over copyright of the piece.

    Then we can add it to the Archive in the usual way. Effectively they are becoming a correspondent, even if only for the one reply.

Can I leave the project?

Of course! No one should feel obliged to stay with us once they have lost interest or if their circumstances change. Please do tell us why you want to leave. If you would like to stay in touch, you can become a Friend of the Archive. In this way, you could support us financially (the amount of the subscription is up to you), come to open days at the Archive and receive our Bulletin without having to reply to directives.

Can I visit the Archive?

Yes. The Archive is a public resource in the care of the University of Sussex and is located at The Keep. All visits to The Keep reading rooms must be by appointment, you can find out how to do this here. We also sometimes hold open days or seminars which gives you a chance to meet staff at the Archive, see displays of material and talk to researchers. These are advertised on our website or in the Bulletin. If you do plan to visit please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and let us know. 

Where do I send my contributions?

Please send all your post (letters, Directives, self portraits etc) to the Mass Observation Archive. We have a Freepost system so there is no need to use a stamp unless you wish to. Please note that the postal code is different if you use the Freepost system.

With a stamp:
The Mass Observation Archive
University of Sussex
The Keep
Woollards Way
Brighton
BN1 9BP
Freepost system (no stamp needed):
Freepost: RTGU-AYJE-YSSC
The Mass Observation Archive
The Keep
Woollards Way
Brighton BN1 9BP

Can I send my contributions by email?

Yes. You can send them as Word attachments to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

How is the Project funded?

We have two sources of support: the University of Sussex and the Mass Observation Archive Trust funds. The University through its budget for the main Library, is our main source of support. For MOP staff salaries and all other activities, including the collection of new material, we rely on the Trust fund. This has been built up from fees charged to media or institutional users, or from royalties and fees from publications, in particular the digital publication of material by Adam Matthew Digital from the first phase of MO activity (1937-50s).

In 1991, we set up a Friends of the Archive Scheme and financial support from our much appreciated Friends has been vital in our being able to buy equipment and support salaries. Without the Friends' support, the contemporary Project would not have survived. We also now frequently collaborate with researchers who are asked to make a contribution to our costs.

Application form (temp)

This page will be replaced by a form.

Current Directive

On this page you will find the most recent Directive to be mailed to the Mass Observers. You can download past copies of Mass Observation Project Directives here.

Spring 2018

Part 1: Charity and the Welfare State

Your political views

Before you begin answering this directive:

We realise that political parties often don’t align with our own individual political viewpoints; but please could you tell us, IN JUST ONE SENTENCE which British party best represents your political views at this point in time. (Mass Observation writers were asked about this several times during the 1940s and 1950s)

Views of different generations

For this Directive we would like to know what you think about the welfare state, and the role of charities and voluntary organisations, in supporting those in need.
 
We are particularly interested in the views of different generations, so when writing, could you also please reflect on any views of family and friends. 
 
Relevance and importance of the Welfare State today
 
What five words come to mind when you think of ‘The Welfare State’? 
 
What do you think the welfare state currently does for people in the UK? Is it still relevant to our society? 
 
What are your thoughts on the sort of welfare services that central and local government should or shouldn’t fund? Could you describe what you feel are essential needs? 
 
At the moment, a lot of welfare services (such as care for older people, children and families’ services, or services for young people) are delivered by a mix of government, private companies or charities. Who would you say should be providing these services? Please explain why. 
 
Charity - its importance and relevance today
 
What five words come to mind when you think of charity? 
 
What do you think is the relevance of charity in the UK today? What should be the key roles of charities? Please give examples.
 
Please share your thoughts and feelings about those who use charities or benefit from charitable support?

What are your thoughts on charity appeals?
 
What do you think about charities lobbying government? 
 
More generally, what do you think about the relationship between charities and government?
 
Your experience
 
How have you, your family or friends used, or been helped by government or local authority run welfare services (for example, help or care for an elderly relative, or a child)? What was your/their experience like?
 
What about voluntary organisations or charities (for example, an elderly relative being helped to live independently; a young person looking for work; or a relative struggling with mental health?) Can you describe your experience?
 
Since 2010 the government has run a programme of austerity, what impact do you think austerity has had, and is having on the country, and your local area?
 
Have you noticed any changes to the provision of welfare by the government or by your local authority? What about the support provided by charities and voluntary organisations?
 
Needs of different groups of people in the 2010s
 
In the 1940s Mass Observation asked people about the needs of children, young people and older people. 
 
To finish we would like you to think about what should be done for children, young people and older people in the 2010/20s? Are there outstanding needs or issues that you feel strongly affect any of these groups that need addressing? 
 
Do you think there are people living in Britain with strong needs that are not currently being met? 
 
Are there people who you feel are receiving too much support?

Part 2: Disability

As explained in the covering letter, Part 2 of this directive has been commissioned as part of the Beyond Boxes project. It has been designed in consultation with Blind Veterans UK. The main aim of this directive is to have a record of everyday experiences of disability. Whether you consider yourself to be disabled or not, we would like to hear from you.

A task to get you started

What are the words that come to mind when you think of the word ‘disability’? Why did you think of those words?

Language

Language and words in reference to disability have changed over time and continue to develop along with our understanding and awareness. Are there words that you think should or should not be used in relation to disability, or to refer to disabled people? If you consider yourself to be disabled, what words, phrases or terms do you prefer to use?

Understanding and perceptions

What level of understanding do you think the public has in relation to disability? Are you aware of the social and physical barriers disabled people face? What about any attitudes faced? Have you or any of your family experienced barriers?

Has your understanding and perception of disability and disabled people changed over time? If so, why is this? Did anything specific change your perception and understanding?

Your own experience of disability

Do you consider or identify yourself as a disabled person? If so, what are your everyday experiences? Do you encounter barriers in your everyday life? What about the experiences of friends or family members?

Accessibility

Each week there are numerous media reports about how many disabled people cannot physically access services. Do you have any thoughts on how service providers can improve accessibility for disabled people? This may include public services, universities, schools, museums & theatres, cinemas & pubs, roads and pathways, and shopping centres.     

We would be interested to know about your everyday experiences of access issues.

Hidden disabilities

There has been recent media coverage of the Paralympics and an emphasis on and awareness of physical disabilities and access requirements. However many people live with hidden disabilities or health conditions, which are not obviously visible such as dementia, diabetes, dyslexia, MS, anxiety and many others.

This can make accessing services and everyday life more difficult as people may not understand or be aware they need assistance if their disability or health condition is not apparent.

Have you noticed any measures, such as the ‘Please give me a seat’ badges created by Transport for London, aimed at educating people about hidden disabilities or health conditions? Are there any incidences you are aware of, in which people have been challenged for using accessible toilets or parking spaces for example?

What ideas do you have about raising awareness of hidden disabilities or health conditions?

Visual impairment

We are interested to hear about your everyday experiences of having a visual impairment. Could you share with us whether your everyday life has changed due to adaptations to your home, or in public places? Are there any technologies you use which are particularly useful? Are there any organisations that you have been part of or use the services of? Have you ever experienced unwarranted help from well-meaning members of the public? 

Disability and ageing

As we write this directive there has been a number of reports in the media about acquiring disabilities in later life. Amongst others, these reports have focused on dementia, arthritis, hearing loss and depression. Do you have any experiences of these?

We would welcome any further thoughts or experiences you would like to share on this subject.

Part 3: The Royal Wedding Saturday 19th May 2018

For Part 3 of this Directive we would like you to share your thoughts and feelings about the upcoming wedding of HRH Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday the 19th May.

Since the coronation of King George VI in 1937 Mass Observation has captured peoples thoughts and opinions of royalty and royal events.

Please write about your thoughts, the conversations you have with others and any reactions to media coverage about this royal event.

Day diaries

We would also like you to record what you get up to on this day, from the moment you wake until you go to bed. Please document any activities, thoughts and feelings on this day, paying particular attention to the royal wedding. If the wedding does not affect your day in any way, we still would like to receive your diary.

 

Saturday 12th May 2018

 Would you like to keep a one-day diary  for Mass Observation?

In 2018 the Mass Observation Archive will be repeating its annual call for day diaries, capturing the everyday lives of people across the UK. The written diaries will be stored in the Archive at The Keep and be used by a wide range of people for research, teaching and learning. This includes academics and students, schools, writers, producers, artists, community and special interest groups and the general public.

In 1937 Mass Observation called for people from all parts of the UK to record everything they did from when they woke up in the morning to when they went to sleep at night on 12th May. This was the day of George VI’s Coronation. The resulting diaries provide a wonderful glimpse into the everyday lives of people across Britain, and have become an invaluable resource for those researching countless aspects of the era.

May 12th 2018 is likely to be quite an ordinary day, but for those researching, the ‘ordinary’ can often provide extraordinary results.  The diaries will be held and used alongside the 1937 documents. We would be very grateful if you could document your May 12th for the future.

How to take part 

  • Write as much as you can about what you do, what you talk about, what you eat and drink, what you buy or sell, what you are working on, the places you visit, the people you meet, the things you read, see and hear around you, how you are feeling and, of course, what you yourself think
  • Diaries should be in electronic form as email attachments (as word documents preferably) to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Please refrain from including your real name, contact details, or the personal details of the people mentioned in your diary. Please remember that these diaries will be read and used for research and teaching, so don’t include anything that may identify you or others.
  • You should include a brief self portrait: your age, where you live, your relationship status, your present job or occupation if you are working and any other information that you think is important to record.
  • If 12th May was a typical day for you please say so. If not, please say why it wasn’t. Any reflections on the day and on how you felt while keeping the diary are welcome.
  • So that we can add your diary to the rest of the Archive for the future, please include the statement below at the end of your diary. If you don’t attach this statement, we won’t be able to keep your diary or make it part of the Archive.

“I donate my 12th May diary to the Mass Observation Archive. I consent to it being made publicly available as part of the Archive and assign my copyright in the diary to the Mass Observation Archive Trustees so that it can be reproduced in full or in part on websites, in publications and in broadcasts as approved by the Mass Observation Trustees. I agree to the Mass Observation Archive assuming the role of Data Controller and the Archive will be responsible for the collection and processing of personal data and ensuring that such data complies with the DPA.”

You can also take part on Twitter. Tweet your day using the hashtag #12May18

Action for M.E. 300dpi colour logo 1

Action for M.E

The Mass Observation Archive is working in partnership with Action for M.E during M.E Awareness Month to record people’s experience of living with the chronic neurological condition myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E) on the 12th May. We are also accepting diaries via test message. THe number is 07537404300.

Schools and Community Groups

12th May with Childs Drawing for webpage

We would also welcome diaries from school children, community groups, or other organisations. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to discuss how your group can take part or download our 12th May diary pack:

These packs are designed for schools and groups wanting to post their diaries to the Archive. Individuals can also use the diary template to submit their entry if they wish but please complete only the first page.

download icon12th May diary folder

download icon12th May diary template

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