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. Smoking (Module 130): this module was asked on behalf of the Department of Health and the questions relate to smoking. Social Capital (Module 335): this module was asked on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills and the Socio-Economic Inequalities Branch (SEIB) of the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The questions asked measure social capital in young people. For the purposes of this study young people are defined as those aged 16 to 24 years. Vocational Rehabilitation (Module 340): this module was asked on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) who are seeking to help more people move from Incapacity Benefit back to work. These questions seek to identify what help the public perceives is available to them and which sources of advice the public would prefer to consult. Pensions (Module 341): this module was asked on behalf of DWP and questions relate to the extent to which people of working age are providing for their retirement and changes to women's pension age. Babies (Module 342): this module was asked on behalf of the ONS. The General Household Survey currently asks 'Have you ever had a baby?'. Some women on the GHS have omitted to mention grown-up children when asked this question. The question has been reviewed and this module tests the revised wording. The wording has been revised in conjunction with the Quality Methods Applied to Social Surveys Unit at ONS. Rail Travel (Module 343): this module was asked on behalf of the Department for Transport. The questions ask about rail travel and respondents' views on railway line closures in Great Britain.
Multi-stage stratified random sample
Face-to-face interview
