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: Tobacco consumption (Module 210): This module was asked on behalf of the Department of Customs and Excise to help them estimate the amount of tobacco that is consumed as cigarettes. SunSmart (Module 327): This module was asked on behalf of researchers at the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London (UCL) to find out whether respondents had heard of SunSmart 2002 and what the main messages of the campaign were. Older workers (Module 325): This module was asked on behalf of researchers at the Department of Educational Studies, at the University of Surrey. They were interested in finding out about changes to the respondent's working situation, which may have occurred in the past three years. Reusable nappies (Module 316): This module was asked on behalf of the Environment Agency who were interested in people who currently use or have used reusable nappies in the past. Telephones (Module 321): This module contains questions about telephones. The module was asked on behalf of the Social Survey Division of the Office for National Statistics as part of their methodology work on Random Digit Dialling for telephone surveys. Withheld deposits (Module 323): This module was asked on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. They were interested in respondents who have lived in privately rented accommodation in the last five years and have either entered or left a private tenancy agreement in the last five years. Stepfamilies (Module 311): This module was asked on behalf of the Population and Demography Division at the Office for National Statistics and asked about dependent children, including adopted and stepchildren. Living Apart Together (Module 312): This module was also asked on behalf of the Population and Demography Division at the Office for National Statistics. The researchers were interested in the changing social pattern of relationships and the resulting households' needs relating to people who are in a relationship but choose to live apart.
Multi-stage stratified random sample
Face-to-face interview
