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: Mortgage Arrears (Module 2): source of mortgage, if any; whether behind in payments, and if so reasons for falling behind. Also question on whether bought from a Right to Buy scheme. Investment Income (Module 7a): ownership of shares and income from shares, bank accounts and building society accounts. GP Accidents (Module 78): accidents in previous three months that resulted in seeing a doctor or going to hospital; where accident happened; whether saw a GP or went straight to hospital. For accidents involving either the respondent or other household member, that resulted in a GP being seen, details of items of equipment involved in the accident were recorded. Risk Behaviour (smoking) (Module 94): smokers were asked what they thought their own chances as well as other smokers chances of getting lung cancer were. Water Supply (Module 108): awareness of OFWAT; expectation of increases in water bills over the next few years and reasons; awareness of price controls set by OFWAT. Hearing and Subtitles (Module 115): 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.
Multi-stage stratified random sample
Face-to-face interview
