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: Consumer Durables (Module BDurab): this module contains questions about consumer durables that are either owned by the household or available for use in the respondent's accommodation. Second Homes (Module 4): this module was asked on behalf of the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR). It had appeared in previous Omnibus surveys in a slightly different form. The module queried respondents on ownership of a second home by any member of the household and reasons for having the second home. Expectation of House Price Changes (Module 137): this module asks respondents' views on changes to house prices in the next year and next five years. Cancer - Causes and Risks (Module 206): this module was asked on behalf of the Health Behaviour Unit of the Department of Public Health and Epidemiology at University College London Medical School. The questions included awareness of the risk factors associated with five common cancers, knowledge of survival rates, and cancer screening. Reading (Module 211): this module was asked on behalf the Department for Education and Employment and covers reading for pleasure; reading to, and reading with children; and awareness of the National Year of Reading. Hearing and Subtitles (Module 204): this module was asked of household members who had hearing difficulties or who had difficulty hearing a television with the volume at normal level. The following questions were asked: whether a hearing aid is worn and whether helpful when watching television; whether has an induction loop for television and whether helpful; extent of hearing difficulty when watching television; extent of television viewing; knowledge, use and views of teletext subtitles; types of television programmes most watched/least watched with subtitles. Consumption of Tobacco (Module 210): This module was asked on behalf of Customs and Excise and covers whether smokes cigarettes; how many cigarettes smoked; type of cigarettes smoked. Attitudes to Mental Illness - (Module 208): This module was asked on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists to assess attitudes to mental illness and the prevalence of stigma in the population. Questions cover people's perception of mental illness.
Multi-stage stratified random sample
Face-to-face interview
