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Are we stepping into the future? Exploring the representativeness of web-only surveys of the general population

  • Publication Type: Understanding Society Working Paper Series
  • Publication date:
  • Series: Understanding Society Working Paper Series

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Abstract

The expansion of internet access raises the question of whether it is now feasible to conduct web-only surveys of the general population without compromising representativeness. This study examines the representativeness of web-only surveys of the general population in the United Kingdom using data from the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study main survey (2009-2022) and Innovation Panel (2012-2023). Internet users have become increasingly representative of the general population, though some gaps persist among older adults and other disadvantaged groups. Web survey respondents have also become more representative of the general population over the last decade.

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