Innovation Panel
The Innovation Panel (IP) is designed to test methods of data collection and measurement relevant to longitudinal surveys, particularly Understanding Society. As far as practical its design, content, and data collection procedures are similar to the mainstage Understanding Society survey.
About the Survey
The IP has several experimental studies in which households are randomly assigned to a particular instrument or survey procedure. It is important to understand all the different experimental manipulations in which a household may be involved, since they might interact. It is particularly important to note the variations in variable names related to different experimental versions of the questionnaire.
The IP collects information on all members of the household in computer assisted interviews. Most interviews are conducted face-to-face in the home of participants. In the second wave, telephone and face-to-face interviews were compared. See Innovation Panel – A tool for survey methodology research for more information
Understanding Society is a world leading study of the socio-economic circumstances and attitudes of 100,000 individuals in 40,000 British households.
It is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and run by the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER). The study allows for deeper analysis of a wide range of sections of the population as they respond to regional, national and international change. Understanding Society will greatly enhance our insight into the pathways that influence peoples longer term occupational trajectories; their health and well-being, their financial circumstances and personal relationships.
Understanding Society also breaks new ground with its interdisciplinary focus. The study will capture biomedical data on 20,000 participants and place this alongside rich social histories, helping us weigh the extent to which people's environment influences their health.