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: Access to services (Module 251): Asked on behalf of the Social Analysis Branch of ONS Social Reporting Division, the first half asks how respondents travel to various services and to work, and the second half asks how easy it is to get to these services. Genetic modification (Module 248): this module was asked on behalf of the National Centre for Social Research (formerly SCPR) and the questions are being used in a panel study to compare changes of opinion in the panel with the view of a general population sample. Public confidence in official statistics (Module 197): this module followed on from pilot work begun in the November 1996 survey, and aimed to measure: 1) whether people have heard of ONS or its component parts - the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, and the Central Statistical Office, and 2) the level of public confidence in official statistics (those produced by ONS). Consumption of tobacco (Module 210): this module was asked on behalf of Customs and Excise to help them estimate the amount of tobacco consumed as cigarettes. Drinking (Module 192): this module was asked on behalf of the Department of Health. It is based on the 'Drinking' module run in March 1998 with some new questions added. New questions designed to investigate the social context of drinking; whether they have noticed unit labelling on drinks; and whether medical advice has been sought about drinking. Child support (Module 256): this module was asked on behalf of the Department for Social Security. Asks questions on the financial support of children whose parents no longer live or have never lived together. People without bank accounts (Module 254): this module was asked on behalf of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research and is to find out what type of bank account, if any, people have. Pensions (Module 255): this module was asked on behalf of the Department for Social Security. They are interested in people's attitudes towards pensions and savings. Results will feed into evaluation of pensions reforms including Stakeholder Pensions. Confidentiality (Module 257): this module was asked on behalf of the Social Survey Division of ONS. It aims to discover how much confidence the respondent has that data collected will remain confidential.
Multi-stage stratified random sample
Face-to-face interview
