Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The Continuous Household Survey (CHS) is one of the largest continuous surveys carried out in Northern Ireland. The survey is designed, conducted and analysed by the Central Survey Unit of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). It is based on a sample of the general population resident in private households and has been running since 1983. The Survey is designed to provide a regular source of information on a wide range of social and economic issues relevant to Northern Ireland. The CHS is an important source of information in Northern Ireland and is used by many Government departments and Agencies. Regular clients include the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Culture Arts and Leisure, Regional Developments, Environment, Education, Employment and Learning and NISRA. Further information about the series, including methodology, may be found on the NISRA Central Survey Unit (CSU) Continuous Household Survey web pages.

Main Topics:

The main topics covered in the 2010-2011 survey included demographic, personal, family and household information, religion, mobile phone/internet access, education, adult health, smoking, drinking, employment, job applications, tourism, culture, arts and leisure activities, voluntary work, and income and benefits. There were also questions asked at a household level on migration, tenure, consumer durables, and recycling. Some of the questions are based on those asked in the GLF.

Multi-stage stratified random sample

The CHS is based on a systematic random sample of 4,500 addresses drawn each year from the Land and Property Services Agency’s (LPSA) list of domestic addresses. The LPSA addresses are sorted by district council and ward, so the sample is effectively stratified geographically. Data is collected by personal interview using CAPI, and the interviews are spread equally over the 12 months from April to March.

Face-to-face interview