For the first time in the study’s history, data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) has been harmonised with Understanding Society to create 25 years of longitudinal data.
The British Household Panel Survey started in 1991 and followed the same representative sample of individuals over 18 years. In 2009, BHPS participants were asked if they would consider joining the new, larger and more wide-ranging survey Understanding Society.
The latest data release features seven waves of Understanding Society data, plus eighteen waves of Understanding Society harmonised British Household Panel Survey data. All of the data can be downloaded via the UK Data Service.
Features in the Wave 7 data release
- Main survey: Most modules in Wave 7 appeared in previous waves, however there are a number of new modules, including questions on health service use, young adult and parental higher education expectations, and questions about poverty. All modules can be seen in the Long Term Content Plan.
- Young adult questionnaire content: Since Wave 2, participants aged 16-21 years old answer additional questions in the Main Survey that are tailored for young adults. In this data release rotating modules on education, bullying at school and future intentions are repeated so that researchers can examine change from Waves 3 and 5. Read all of the young adult modules.
- Youth questionnaire modules: Participants aged 10-15 years old complete a paper questionnaire every wave, which takes 30 minutes to complete. The youth self-completion questionnaire was the same as used at Wave 5. The youth self-completion questionnaire includes questions on family life, friends, bullying, happiness, education, health and political attitudes.
- Immigrant and Ethnic Minority Boost: In the Understanding Society interview, the Immigrant and Ethnic Minority Boost Sample are asked an extra five minutes of questions which are relevant to the experiences of ethnic minorities and immigrants.
Webinar for researchers
A joint webinar between the UK Data Service and Understanding Society is planned for March next year and will be aimed at researchers who have some knowledge of Understanding Society. The webinar will give an introduction to accessing and using the harmonised data with examples of what research can be undertaken and the benefits it can bring to your research. Sign up to our quarterly newsletter to keep informed of the date.
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