United Kingdom (Major survey series: academic and other)
[Page last updated 20 October 2013]
Other regular surveys include the British Social Attitudes series, longitudinal surveys (eg 1958 National Child
Development Study, the 1970 British Cohort Study and the Millennium Cohort Study) the National Readership Survey, and polls by major research companies. These can provide important bench-marking information for sampling purposes.
Other regular surveys include the British Social Attitudes series, longitudinal surveys (eg 1958 National Child
Development Study, the 1970 British Cohort Study and the Millennium Cohort Study) the National Readership Survey, and polls by major research companies. These can provide important bench-marking information for sampling purposes.
British Social Attitudes
The British Social Attitudes survey is the leading social research survey in Britain. Since 1983, the annual surveys conducted by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) have continually monitored and interpreted the British public's changing attitudes towards social, economic, political and moral issues. Its findings are reported and interpreted in a series of annual reports.
The British Social Attitudes Information System is maintained by the Centre for Comparative European Survey Data (CCESD) to provide non-specialist users with on-line access and analysis of a cumulative database of over 20,000 survey questions asked in British Social Attitudes surveys over the last 25 years.
Data and documentation from all surveys from 1983 are routinely deposited with the UK Data Service
(UKDS) based at Essex University. Files are accessible from UKDS.: the list of currently available waves is on British Social Attitudes 1983 onwards.
The British Social Attitudes Information System is maintained by the Centre for Comparative European Survey Data (CCESD) to provide non-specialist users with on-line access and analysis of a cumulative database of over 20,000 survey questions asked in British Social Attitudes surveys over the last 25 years.
Data and documentation from all surveys from 1983 are routinely deposited with the UK Data Service
(UKDS) based at Essex University. Files are accessible from UKDS.: the list of currently available waves is on British Social Attitudes 1983 onwards.
Understanding Society
Understanding Society (previously the British Household Panel Survey) Understanding Society is an initiative by the Economic and Social Research Council, with scientific leadership by the Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex, and survey delivery by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen). Data and documentation from all surveys from 1991 are routinely deposited with, and are accessible from, the UK Data Service (UKDS) and the list of currently available waves is on Understanding Society: Waves 1-2, 2009-201. There is also a free User Support Forum for queries and problems.
I am currently developing some teaching materials using data from the survey, which will be made available via UKDS.
I am currently developing some teaching materials using data from the survey, which will be made available via UKDS.
Cohort surveys of child development
The Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS) is an ESRC Resource Centre, based at the Institute of Education, University of London. CLS houses three of Britain's internationally-renowned birth cohort studies:
- 1958 National Child Development Study (NCDS)
- 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70)
- Millennium Cohort Study (MCS)
National Readership Survey
The primary purpose of the National Readership Survey (NRS) is to provide reliable readership estimates for national newspapers and major consumer magazines. Currently over 250 titles are surveyed. To capture the trends in readership, NRS interviews a large sample of 36,000 adults (aged 15+) each year on a continuous basis. Interviews are conducted face-to-face in the homes of respondents. Because of the sample size, this survey is used to benchmark samples for other surveys.
- A large sample: 36,000 interviews with adults aged 15+ per year
- The interview is conducted in the respondent's home
- The average interview takes 27 minutes
- A random sample: only the specific individuals sampled are interviewed