We use the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) to analyse whether employed and unemployed job seekers are substitutes by comparing their individual characteristics and past (un)employment and job histories. Since the BHPS does not directly collect information on job search activities of...

Mixed modes (MM) are receiving increased interest as a possible solution for saving costs in panel surveys, although the lasting effects on data quality are unknown. To better understand the effects of MM on panel data I will examine its impact on random and systematic error and on estimates of...

We analyse the results of experiments on questionnaire design and interview mode in the first four waves (2008-11) of the UK Understanding Society Innovation Panel survey. The randomised experiments relate to job, health, income, leisure and overall life-satisfaction questions and vary the...

We consider the effect of a wave of mixed-mode data collection (telephone and face-to-face), in an otherwise face-to-face survey, on panel attrition and the extent to which this effect is dependent on the nature of the mode-switch protocol.  Findings are reported from an experiment. One...

Web surveys generally produce higher item nonresponse than face-to-face administration.This study examines alternative forms of motivational statements to reduce item nonresponsein a web survey, using an experiment in the UKHLS Innovation Panel. Findings show that amotivational statement...

We provide the first empirical evidence on direct sibling spillover effects in school achievement using English administrative data. Our identification strategy exploits the variation in school test scores across three subjects observed at age 11 and 16 and the variation in the composition of...

This paper presents some preliminary findings from the Wave 3 Innovation Panel (IP3) of Understanding Society: The UK Household Longitudinal Study. Understanding Society is a major new panel survey for the UK. In April 2010, the third wave of the Innovation Panel was fielded. This paper...