Understanding Society: The UK Household Longitudinal Study

Summary of study

Understanding Society, also known as The UK Household Longitudinal study (UKHLS), is a panel study of approximately 40,000 households in the UK which began in 2009 [85].

All members of the household aged 16 years and over complete a survey on a yearly basis. Interviews are via an online questionnaire or by a face-to-face or telephone interview. Each wave takes place over a 24-month period [85]. Members of the household who are aged 10-15 years are asked to complete a short self-completion youth questionnaire until they reach 16 years of age. UKHLS has a complex sample design which has been outlined in detail in a previous report [86].

Briefly, the overall survey consists of:

• a general population sample
• members of the British Household Panel Survey (which ran from 1991/92 to 2008/09 (from Wave 2)), and
• an immigrant and ethnic minority boost sample from Wave 6 onwards.

The overall aim of UKHLS is to provide longitudinal data to describe the health, work, and education, economic, social and family life of the UK population and provide a platform to understand social and economic change and policy interventions.