Glossary

A panel refers to a survey sample in which the same units or respondents are surveyed or interviewed on two or more occasions (waves). See also: panel study.

Source: SAGE Research Methods.

Panel studies follow the same individuals over time. Information is normally collected about the whole household at each wave. See also: wave.

Source: Closer Learning Hub (Panel studies).

In survey design, a population is an entire collection of observation units, for example all ‘residents in England and Wales in 2020’, about which researchers seek to draw inferences.

Statistics produced using a sample of cases (sample statistics), which are designed to produce an estimate about the characteristics of the population (population parameter).

Source: SAGE Research Methods.

Precision refers to the size of deviations from a survey estimate (i.e. a survey statistic, such as a mean or percentage) that occurs over repeated application of the same probability-based sampling procedures using the same sampling frame and sample size. Standard errors and confidence intervals are two examples of commonly used measures of precision.

Source: SAGE Research Methods.

Primary data is data collected first-hand for a specific research purpose or project.

Source: SAGE Research Methods.

A sample based on random selection of elements. It should be possible for the sample designer to calculate the probability with which an element in the population is selected for inclusion in the sample.

PSPP is an open source statistics package which has a similar design and basic functionality of SPSS. Visit the PSPP website for more information.