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 Customs and Excise to help them estimate the amount of tobacco consumed as cigarettes. Intention to stop smoking (Module 298): this module was asked on behalf of ASH, the anti-smoking lobby. They were interested in when smokers think they might stop smoking and whether they have used No Smoking Day to help them quit. The questions about No Smoking Day were also asked of ex-smokers. Internet access (Module 264): this module was asked on behalf of a number of government departments, but primarily the Office for National Statistics and the e-Envoy's Office (part of the Cabinet Office). Designed to monitor internet use, which is currently a high profile government policy. Human rights (Module 243): this module was asked on behalf of the Home Office and concerned an individual's rights to liberty in the UK. Area regeneration (Module 296): questions concerning people's perceptions of the area they live in, asked on behalf of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. Grandparents (Module 294): asked on behalf of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the ESRC, this module is in two parts. Part one looks at attitudes to being a grandparent and number of grandchildren; part two looks at the characteristics of up to four sets of grandchildren, including how often the respondent sees them and the ways in which they help one another. Non-resident parental contact (Module 299): these questions were asked on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department and are about children who live with only one of their birth parents. AIDS awareness (Module 300): this module was asked on behalf of the National AIDS Trust (NAT), who were interested in finding out how respondents perceive people infected with HIV or AIDS and how these people might be treated by society.
Multi-stage stratified random sample
Face-to-face interview
