A S polling day approaches, Scotland is looking beyond September 18 and thinking about the effect the referendum campaign will have on the country in the longer term.

The campaign has seen a very high level of engagement among people around the country. Our polling earlier this year in May found that 73% had engaged with the debate at that time, months before the polling date, although much of this was in conversations with family and friends (60%), followed by coverage on special TV programmes about the referendum (42%).

As the variety of issues and arguments raised by the two campaigns have been central features of the news agenda throughout 2014, it is likely that many aspects of the debate will continue post-September 18.

To get an idea of what implications this might have for Scotland, irrespective of the outcome of the vote, TNS interviewed 1003 adults in Scotland aged 16 years and over to ask about the longer term impact of the campaign.

It is evident the referendum debate has generated some considerable discussion across the Scottish population and a clear division of opinion as to whether it has been positive or negative for the country.

Half (51%) thought the referendum debate had been good for the country, with 26% disagreeing that this was the case. However, the same slight majority agreed that the debate had been divisive and would cause problems in the future, with 28% disagreeing with this statement.

Opinion varied little across gender, age, social grade and region, but there was a striking difference between those supporting the two sides of the argument. The overwhelming majority of those backing a Yes vote - 82% - said the debate had been good for the country, with only 4% disagreeing. In contrast, only 31% of those backing a No vote thought that the campaign and debate had been good for the country, with 45% disagreeing.

Those backing a No vote also took a more negative view of the longer-term effect of the campaign and debate: 63% agreed that "the referendum debate has caused divisions between people in Scotland which will cause problems in the future," compared with 51% of the electorate as a whole.

One in five of No voters disagreed, compared with 28% overall.

Among Yes voters, only a third (34%) agreed that the debate had caused divisions which would lead to problems in the future, with 44% disagreeing.

As with the question about whether the debate had been good for the country, there was little variation in opinion by gender, age, social grade or region.

This division of opinion between the two sides of the debate is hardly surprising. For the Yes supporters, this campaign represents their big opportunity to secure independence for Scotland and they have sought to make the most of this chance.

In contrast, for the No voters there has been the challenge of defending the status quo or seeking to promote the idea of securing some further devolution of powers to the Scottish Parliament.

Pursuing the single route of independence as opposed to the two 'unionist' options is undoubtedly a simpler, stronger message to communicate.

Reassuringly, most voters thought that their lives would carry on as normal after the referendum.

Asked to comment on the statement that "once the result of the referendum is known, people will just get on with things as usual, regardless of the result", 64% agreed with only 19% disagreeing.

Again, there was a difference between Yes and No supporters: 70% of those intending to vote Yes agreed with the statement, compared with 59% of those backing a No vote.

If there is a Yes vote on the 18th of this month, it will usher in the biggest change in Scottish political life for 300 years. There will be argument and debate over the terms that would then have to be negotiated between Holyrood and Westminster.

Previous polling by TNS for The Herald has shown that support for "devo max" - the option that is not on the ballot paper - is higher at 33% than for independence at 28% or the status quo at 26%.

This preference demonstrates that, even in the event of a No vote, there is clearly an appetite for change, an appetite which all three of the main unionist parties have promised to address in the next UK parliament.

The three parties are offering different visions of a more devolved settlement, and those visions are likely to be an important part of next year's general election campaign in Scotland, should the No side prevail in the referendum.

So debate and discussion about the constitutional future of Scotland will continue whatever the result of the poll. It is to be hoped that it is conducted in the tolerant and rational manner that - with some notorious exceptions - has characterised the pre-referendum debate.