Scottish household survey: Frequently Asked Questions

News and Developments

How do I keep up to date with SHS news and developments?

If you wish to be added to the e-mail mailing list to be kept informed of details of SHS developments, you should register your interest in 'Population and Household Survey' topic in the ScotStat Register.

The previous Scottish Household Survey e-mail distribution list will now cease to operate and all future up-dates will be e-mailed through the ScotStat distribution list.

Reports

All annual reports and publications are available from the SHS website.  The two main releases are the Annual Report and the Local Authority Tables.  The Annual Report is the first release of the data and this contains key analysis from the survey at Scotland level.  The Local Authority tables reproduce the tables and charts from the Annual Report at Local Authority level.

Annual Reports

The latest SHS Annual Report was published in September 2020. The next Annual Report will be published in October 2021.

Local Authority Tables

The latest SHS Local Authority Tables were published inSeptember 2020. The next Local Authority tables will be published in October 2021.

Accessing Data

How can I access SHS data?

Access to SHS data, including the full SHS data sets are managed by the Economic and Social Data Service (ESDS) core services. This is a national data service that brings together the UK Data Archive (UKDA), Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER), Manchester Information and Associated Services (MIMAS) and the Cathie Marsh Centre for Census and Social Research (CCSR).

SHS datasets can be obtained via the ordering data webpage

 

What is the most up to date data available?

Sweep	Availability	ESDS/UKDA REF NO.
2019	UKDS website	SN8775
2018	UKDS website	SN8617
2017	UKDS website	SN8463
2016	UKDS website	SN8333
2015	UKDS website	SN8168
2014	UKDS website	SN 7964
2013	UKDS website	SN 7963
2012	UKDS website	SN 7740
1999/2000 Full dataset & lite versions	UKDS website	SN 4351 (FULL) SN 5030 (LITE)
2001/2002 Full dataset & lite versions	UKDS website	SN 4642 (FULL) SN5031 (LITE)
2003 (annual data)	UKDS website	SN 5020
2003/2004	UKDS website	SN 5020 (FULL) SN 5261 (LITE)

What format is data available in?

Most of the datasets are available in SPSS, SAS and tab delimited format (suitable for use in excel). Most of the SHS datasets are also available in the Nesstar system which will allow you to explore the data online and to do basic exploratory analysis before choosing to download all, or subset, of the data.

Requesting Tables or Analyses

How do I get a table that is not in an annual report?

The SHS team is the first point of contact for requests for data analysis. Analysis is carried out by statisticians with access to SHS data.

The SHS team can be reached via the SHS mailbox

It would be useful to be as specific as possible and to include the following in your email:

· Which questions from the questionnaire you wish analysis of

· What year of data you require

· Timescales (when you need it for)

How do I make a request for a special dataset?

The SHS team is the first point of contact for requests for 'special datasets'. These are request where the standard anonymised dataset deposited at the Data Archive does not contain all the information you require, for example where more detailed geography, or age etc are required.

Please email all requests to the SHS mailbox again being as specific as possible. All requests for special datasets will be circulated to the SHS Technical Group members who will make a decision on whether to release the data. This ensures we are complying with regulations such as the Data Protection Act 1998.

Follow-up Surveys

What is a follow-up survey?

One of the intentions of the SHS is to identify sub-groups of the population to allow for more detailed follow- up research.

At the end of each interview, respondents are asked whether they are willing to be re-contacted for further research. The wording of the consent they are asked to give is as follows:

"In the future, the Scottish Government may want to commission follow-up research among particular groups of the public to improve public policies and services. Please be assured that any information you provide for this purpose will only be released for bone fide social research carried out be reputable research organisations and that your confidentiality will be protected in the publication of any results given.

Would you be willing to have your name, contact details and relevant answers you have given during the interview passed on to the Scottish Government or other research agencies acting on behalf of, or in collaboration with, the Scottish Government for this purpose?"

How do I make a request for a follow-up survey?

From April 2003, researchers working in collaboration with the Scottish Government can request to use the follow-up sample. In the first instances an application should be made to the SHS mailbox. This communication should convey as much detail as possible about the proposed details, preferably covering the following issues as a business case:

• Expected timescale
• The proposed topic coverage and aims and objectives of the research
• The population sub-groups to be targeted
• Planned sample size
• Methodology
• And justification for the use of the SHS as opposed to other sampling frames.

On receipt of this application the Project Manager will seek the advice or approval of the Scottish Household Survey Technical group on this matter.

Project costs must also be considered by anyone planning to undertake follow-up research as the costs for drawing a sample from the SHS, undertaking the follow-up research and the dissemination of findings must be met from outside the SHS budget. There would be a cost for the sampling and mailing which would be payable to MORI, our contractor.

How do I contact the SHS team?

In the first instance all enquires should be emailed to the SHS mailbox.