Sample composition and representativeness on Understanding Society

Abstract

In this paper, we provide an overview of the sample design of Understanding Society and the consequent nature of design weights as well as a description of procedures that are implemented in order to maximise participation by sample members and procedures that are implemented to produce non-response adjustments to the design weights. We then present some indicators of sample representativeness at the initial wave and of the impact that subsequent sample attrition has on this before concluding with some reflections on the nature of representativeness and estimation methods in the context of a highly complex sample design and complex patterns of missing data arising from non-response.