The NatCen Blog

Here we’ll be talking about our research in the context of the latest news, opinion and
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Posted on 27 January 2022

Online questionnaire testing – how did the pandemic change our approach?

In order to collect high-quality data, it is critical to test questionnaires before a survey is launched. This is especially important for questionnaires which will be administered online, as respondents must complete these without any support from a trained interviewer.
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Tags: interviews, methods, online methods, questionnaires, research methods
Posted on 02 August 2021 by Ceri Davies, Director

Where next for online deliberation?

Online deliberative research is an emerging discipline, with much of the existing work restricted to examining internet discussion forums. The use of videoconferencing as a mode to support deliberation had, until 12 months ago at least, remained largely unexplored.
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Tags: deliberative polling, deliberative research, methods, online methods
Posted on 18 September 2020 by Gillian Prior, Deputy Chief Executive and Director

I hear you knocking…

In this article Gillian Prior, our Head of Surveys, Data and Analysis, considers a new NatCen panel survey examining the public’s views on face-to-face interviews, as well as the current possibilities for restarting face-to-face fieldwork on large-scale surveys.
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Tags: NatCen Panel, fieldwork, methods, safety
Posted on 20 March 2020 by Ceri Davies, Director

Going digital with deliberation

In the face of measures to delay the spread of Covid-19, qualitative researchers must consider how to continue their research whilst we cannot meet in person. In this blog, Ceri Davies discusses the lessons we’ve learned from running the UK’s first online deliberative poll using videoconferencing software.
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Tags: deliberative polling, deliberative research, digital, methods, videoconference
Posted on 19 May 2017 by Debbie Collins, Senior Research Director, Director of NatCen Learning

What role can sensor data play in social research?

Following the first NatCen, ESS-ERIC and City University methodology seminar, Debbie Collins outlines the opportunities and challenges presented by the use of sensor data in social research.
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Tags: methodology, methods, sensors
Posted on 10 March 2015

Making research inclusive: gathering the perspectives of vulnerable people detained in police custody

Enabling participation among people who are less easy to reach is at the core of the work carried out by NatCen's Crime and Justice team. This blog explores how we go about making the voices of vulnerable people heard.
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Tags: crime and justice, methodology, methods
Posted on 24 October 2014

Placing bets on action: Experimentation in social innovation

Over the past few decades, we have seen a significant increase in the application of business ideas and practices to non-profit and government work in many countries. Businesses are keener than ever to create social value through corporate social responsibility, corporate citizenship, or socially responsible business.
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Tags: evaluation, experimentation, methods, social innovation
Posted on 21 October 2014

It started with a tweet…

It started with a tweet, a blog post and a nervous laugh. Three months later I found myself looking at a book of blogs. How did that happen?! Being involved in the NSMNSS network since its beginning has been an ongoing delight for me.
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Tags: blogging, book of blogs, e-mail, LinkedIn, NSMNSS, ethics, Facebook, methodology, methods, social media, Twitter
Posted on 18 August 2014

Don’t save all the evaluation for the end

More and more, policymakers want to know ‘what’s working’. Here, Triin talks about how there needs to be a shift in thinking that sees evaluation as an ongoing process.
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Tags: evaluations, impact, policy evaluations, Triin Edovald, methods
Posted on 13 March 2014

Understanding growing up

As Head of the Children & Young People team, our work involves everything from sensitively gauging how new mums are doing, to convincing indifferent teens to tell us about their experience at school. It’s a tough job, but my team are real experts.
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Tags: Jane O'Brien, babies, children, children & young people research, methodology, methods, young people