NatCen Opinion Panel: FAQs

What is the NatCen Opinion Panel?

The NatCen Opinion Panel is a study including thousands of people from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who share their experiences and opinions on a variety of important topics. The Panel is managed by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), Britain’s largest independent social research agency. To find out more visit: natcen.ac.uk/OpinionPanel.

Who is funding the NatCen Opinion Panel?

Research on the NatCen Opinion Panel is funded by government departments, charities, universities and other organisations to understand what the public really thinks and to explore life in Britain today.

How did you get my contact details?

You previously took part in a NatCen study – such as the British or Scottish Social Attitudes survey, the Life in Northern Ireland Study or the Consumer Protection Study – and were asked if it would be okay to contact you about research in the future. At the time you provided us with some contact details.

What will taking part involve?

You will be invited to take part in short questionnaires lasting around 15 minutes every couple of months or so. You can participate online or over the phone.We will ask you questions on a range of topics, from housing and education, to health and happiness, or government policy and the environment.

Do I have to take part in every questionnaire?

Taking part is your choice. If you would rather not take part in one of our surveys, simply ignore our messages or let us know. If you would like to leave the Panel, please get in touch so we can update your records.

Will I receive a voucher for taking part?

Each invitation will explain what you will receive for taking part. You will receive a shopping voucher as a thank you for taking part in most questionnaires. You can spend these at a range of high street shops including Argos, Boots, Sainsbury’s and TK Maxx. 

What will you do with the information I give?

The information you give will be used for research purposes only. Most of the results will appear as statistics and we will not identify your individual opinion without seeking your permission. Sometimes we will analyse your answers together with answers you gave to previous questionnaires to help us to understand things like how people’s views are changing over time.

How do you safeguard my privacy?

All your information will be held by NatCen until no longer required in accordance with current data protection legislation. Under this legislation, NatCen is the ‘Data Controller’ and we hold your information on the basis of ‘Legitimate Interest’.

If you want to learn more about how we safeguard your privacy, your data and your rights, you can read our data protection policy at natcen.ac.uk/OpinionPanel/Privacy or contact the NatCen Data Protection Officer by email: dpo@natcen.ac.uk.

How can I contact you?

To get in touch you can email us at OpinionPanel@natcen.ac.uk or call us on 0800 652 4569.