The Innovation Panel is a unique resource for innovative longitudinal experimental and methodological research with international impact. Its purpose is to develop key innovations in survey methods and content that will ensure the future success of the Understanding Society survey, to generate important new knowledge disseminated through publications in leading international journals, and to provide a base for associated studies using new and innovative mixed method approaches. The Innovation Panel is an integral part of the design of Understanding Society. It is a sample of around 2,700 adults and the design mimics the main Understanding Society study.
Find out more about the Innovation Panel
Submit your ideas
This year we are widening the criteria for the Innovation Panel and are looking for proposals for new survey content and for survey methods experiments or evaluations. Successful proposals will be incorporated into Wave 16 of the Innovation Panel, with data collection taking place in spring 2023.
New survey content
This year, for the first time, we are inviting proposals for new survey content that does not involve methodological experimentation or evaluation. The proposed survey questions can be on any topic.
Proposals must meet the following criteria:
- The new questions should be limited to about 1 minute of expected questionnaire time. See the Appendix in the Call for Proposals on how to calculate expected question timings.
- Include a draft specification of all proposed questions and other required text.
- The new questions must be free of any copyright, licence fee, or any other intellectual property concerns which would hinder ISER from using the questions. They should also be justifiable to an ethics committee.
Methodological studies
The proposed research design must:
- Have an expected sample size sufficient to answer the proposed research questions.
- Be within the resources of the Innovation Panel, in terms of system costs, development time and questionnaire time.
- Include a draft specification of all proposed questions and other required text.
- The proposal must not pose a threat to the future of the panel.
- The proposed questions must be free of copyrights, licence fees or any other intellectual property concerns which would hinder ISER from using the questions. They should also be justifiable to an ethics committee.
How to submit your application
You can find full information on the Innovation Panel competition on our website. Please read the Call for Proposals before writing your proposal. In preparing proposals, applicants are encouraged to consult Understanding Society Associate Director for Innovations, Professor Annette Jäckle.
Proposals need to be submitted using the online form. The deadline for proposals is 28 April 2022.
EducationEmploymentEthnicity and immigrationFamily and householdsHealth and wellbeingIncome and expenditureMoney and financesPolitics and social attitudesSocial mobilitySurvey methodologyTransport and environmentYoung people
