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: Withheld Deposits (Module 193): this module was asked on behalf of the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), and would have been included in the Survey of English Housing, but no space was available. It was asked in England only, to help the DETR compile a sample of respondents who had at some time in the past three years had a deposit that they had paid prior to moving into privately rented accommodation withheld when they left. 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. Drinking (Module 192): this module was asked on behalf of the Department of Health. It is based on the 'Drinking' module (113) asked in February and March 1997 (see SN:3920), with some questions omitted and some new questions added, which were designed to measure the likely impact on drinking of an initiative to add unit labelling to drinks sold in supermarkets and off-licences. Back Pain (Module 196): this module was asked on behalf of the Department of Health and asks about back pain experienced in the 12 months prior to the survey. It includes questions about the number of days back pain was experienced, visits to health services for the pain, its cause, whether activities restricted or time taken off work during the four weeks prior to the survey due to back pain. 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. PEPs and TESSAs (Module 185): this module was asked on behalf of the Inland Revenue, to gain more information about the distribution of PEPs and TESSAs and in particular the extent to which the two groups overlap. Financial Products (Module 203): This module was asked on behalf of the British Bankers Association and assesses access to and use of current and savings accounts.
Multi-stage stratified random sample
Face-to-face interview
