About the Study

Understanding Society is the UK Household Longitudinal Study. This means that we interview everyone who lives in a household, ever year, for a long period of time. The Study started in 2009 and we’re still going!

We are unusual as we talk to adults, children and teenagers, so everyone gets to tell us about their life – what’s changing and what stays the same. Interviewing everyone also helps us find out about parents and children, how we get on with our brothers and sisters, and the links we have to our grandparents.

Young people in Understanding Society complete a special survey which asks about topics specific to 10 to 15 year olds. We ask questions about home, family, school, friends, future plans and behaviour. The answers that young people give Understanding Society are really important. The Study is used people in government and in organisations that work with children and teenagers to understand what life is like for young people in the UK today. The information is also used by university researchers who study young people’s lives.

If you’re part of Understanding Society – thank you! You are helping a hugely important project and are representing young people like you from all over the UK. Thank you for sharing your life and experiences with us.