NatCen Opens Centre for Social Survey Transformation

The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) is launching a dedicated Centre for Social Survey Transformation, which will focus on transitioning surveys from face-to-face to web-first or mixed-mode designs.

NatCen claims to have been the first body in the UK to test push-to-web survey methods - in which a random sample of people are sent letters inviting them to complete an online survey questionnaire - with a prototype version of the European Social Survey in 2012. In the years since, the organisation has transferred several large-scale surveys into push-to-web modes, including the National Travel Attitudes Survey, the Bike Life survey series, the Public Confidence in Official Statistics survey and the British Social Attitudes survey.

NatCen will officially launch its new centre and introduce its REMoDEL (Review, Evaluate, Model, Design, Experiment and Launch) approach at a webinar tomorrow. This approach to social survey transformation offers a systematic process for transforming social surveys and generating evidence around the trade-offs and opportunities involved.

Peter Cornick (pictured), Director of NatCen's Centre for Social Survey Transformation, comments: 'This new centre will position NatCen as a leader in the field of social survey transformation, continuing our tradition of excellence in survey methods. We are excited to be generating new evidence in this area, and to be supporting survey commissioners to design successful solutions for their specific research needs.'

Web site: www.natcen.ac.uk .