Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (formerly known as the ONS Opinions Survey or Omnibus) is an omnibus survey that began in 1990, collecting data on a range of subjects commissioned by both the ONS internally and external clients (limited to other government departments, charities, non-profit organisations and academia).Data are collected from one individual aged 16 or over, selected from each sampled private household. Personal data include data on the individual, their family, address, household, income and education, plus responses and opinions on a variety of subjects within commissioned modules. The questionnaire collects timely data for research and policy analysis evaluation on the social impacts of recent topics of national importance, such as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the cost of living, on individuals and households in Great Britain. From April 2018 to November 2019, the design of the OPN changed from face-to-face to a mixed-mode design (online first with telephone interviewing where necessary). Mixed-mode collection allows respondents to complete the survey more flexibly and provides a more cost-effective service for customers. In March 2020, the OPN was adapted to become a weekly survey used to collect data on the social impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the lives of people of Great Britain. These data are held in the Secure Access study, SN 8635, ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, Covid-19 Module, 2020-2022: Secure Access. From August 2021, as coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions were lifting across Great Britain, the OPN moved to fortnightly data collection, sampling around 5,000 households in each survey wave to ensure the survey remains sustainable. The OPN has since expanded to include questions on other topics of national importance, such as health and the cost of living. For more information about the survey and its methodology, see the ONS OPN Quality and Methodology Information webpage.Secure Access Opinions and Lifestyle Survey dataOther Secure Access OPN data cover modules run at various points from 1997-2019, on Census religion (SN 8078), cervical cancer screening (SN 8080), contact after separation (SN 8089), contraception (SN 8095), disability (SNs 8680 and 8096), general lifestyle (SN 8092), illness and activity (SN 8094), and non-resident parental contact (SN 8093). See Opinions and Lifestyle Survey: Secure Access for details.
Main Topics:Each month's questionnaire consists of two elements: core questions, covering demographic information, are asked each month together with non-core questions that vary from month to month.
The non-core questions for this month were: SunSmart (Module 327): this module was asked on behalf of Cancer Research UK to find out whether respondents had heard of SunSmart 2002 and what the main messages of the campaign were. This module has been run since February 2003 to monitor awareness levels pre and post-campaign. Financial capability (Module 336): the purpose of this module was to gain a general view of how respondents who have a mortgage or rent their property would cope with a change to their circumstances, such as an increase to their mortgage or rent payment or a rise in interest rates. It also asks all respondents about type and amount of debt and how the individual or family who have a mortgage or rent their property would cope with 'shock' changes to income. Disability monitoring (Module 363): the Special Licence version of this module is held under SN 6470. Use of HRT (Module 368): the National Health Service is interested in women's use of cancer screening services, in particular breast cancer screening and cervical cancer screening. The module also asks about the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Road accidents (Module MAU): this module was asked on behalf of the Department for Transport which is interested in finding out about road accidents that people have been involved in. Travel horizons (Module MAV): this module was asked on behalf of the Department for Transport which is interested in groups of people who are less likely than others to travel and how this relates to work patterns and finding work.
Multi-stage stratified random sample
Face-to-face interview
