[GB] National Survey for Wales

Full name of the series in original language

National Survey for Wales

Abstract

The National Survey for Wales (NSW), which began in 2012, is the Welsh Government’s key source of information on people’s views about a wide range of issues. The pilot study was completed in 2009-2010. The main survey began in 2012 and the NSW runs continuously to at least 2015. The NSW is the successor to the Living in Wales (LIW) Survey series (sometimes called the Welsh Household and Dwelling Survey) which ran from 2004 to 2008.

The aim of the survey is to help the Welsh Assembly Government to monitor trends in the concerns and needs of people in Wales, assess views and experiences of public services, and target resources to meet needs. Topics covered include public services, such as council, education, and health services; local area and safety; and wellbeing.

TNS-BRMB and Beaufort Research Ltd have commissioned by the Welsh Government to carry out the survey fieldwork. The final dataset is based on a representative sample across Wales, ensuring balanced sampling across each local authority. The survey involves conducting more than 14,000 25-minute face-to-face interviews with a randomly selected representative sample of people aged 16 and over across Wales per year (approximately 660 interviews in each local authority). Fieldwork is based on a random probability sample design and is conducted on a continuous basis. The information collected will be used to inform the development of policy and the delivery of public services.

The pilot survey was based on face-to-face interviews in a randomly chosen sample of households across Wales. In each of these households, the survey covered the head of household and a randomly selected adult (who may also be the head of household). There was also a short self-completion questionnaire for every adult in the household. The NSW covers individuals aged 16 or over living in private households in Wales. The survey once again involves an interview with the head of household and a randomly selected adult (who may also be the head of household). There is also a short self-completion questionnaire for every adult in the household.

The NSW includes many of the same questions each year. Some modules are only included periodically, and it is expected that the topics included will vary to allow scope to collect new information of direct policy relevance. The household questionnaire covers housing tenure, housing costs, financial inclusion, accommodation problems, household deprivation, children's deprivation, internet access, pet ownership. The individual questionnaire covers neighbourhood, communications, disability, environmental behavior, computer and internet, Welsh Assembly Government, street cleaning, dental practices, volunteering, employment, finance. The self-completion questionnaire covers health, local public services, satisfaction with aspects of life, local area, safety and crime, harassment and discrimination. A sample file is also included which contains geographical information about all the sampled households (including non-responding households).

NSW data is at the level of the individual but can also be analysed at household/family level. The NSW deposited data includes 4 datasets with prefixes that describe the level at which the data is available, the prefixes are; ‘nswsample, ‘household’, ‘individual and ‘self-completion’. These files cover the geographical and socio-demographic variables (nswsample), and the results of each of the household, individual and self-completion questionnaires.

Further information is available on the Welsh Government National Survey for Wales web pages:
http://wales.gov.uk/statistics-and-research/national-survey/;jsessionid=...

Geographic coverage

United Kingdom

Time method

Cross-section ad-hoc follow-up

Time period

2012 => 2014

Types of available microdata

Consistency type

Access mode

Update date

15/09/2021