Our survey methods work supports the ongoing development of Understanding Society and adds to the shared expertise in the wider survey methodology community.
There are two broad strands to our survey methodology research. One focuses on the development of and management of the main survey panel, ensuring that the sample remains representative of the UK population and that response rates remain high. Our methods work in this area includes research on the use of incentives, how the mode of interview affects the Study, the role of interviewers in data collection, and sample composition. We also produce research on weighting to ensure that the data accurately reflects the population.
Our second strand of work is more experimental and develops survey methods that could be implemented on the main survey to improve or enhance Understanding Society. This research includes work on innovative data collection methods, such as apps or wearables, collecting new forms of data, and exploring the possibilities for new data linkage. Considering how Understanding Society participants respond to different data collection techniques is also considered, with research on giving consent and participant’s understanding of different questions and requests.
Some of our survey methods research is carried out using the Innovation Panel. This is a sample of 1,500 households used to test innovative ways of collecting data and for developing new areas of research. Experiments are carried out, and questions, procedures and methods are tested and used in a context similar to the main Understanding Society survey in order to make the testbed as realistic as possible.
Participants are, on the whole, asked the same questions using the same procedures as the main survey. However, the Innovation Panel also includes experiments and methodological tests designed to develop and evaluate methodologies and new content for longitudinal survey research.
Data from the Innovation Panel is available to academics and researchers for both methodological and substantive research.
You can read find out more about the Innovation Panel, including information about the experiments carried out, in the Innovation Panel area of the website.
You can find all survey methods research papers based on Understanding Society in our publications catalogue.
Understanding Society also has a working paper series recording the methodological research carried out by the scientific team working on the Study.
