Introduction

The Government Social Survey, now the Social Survey Division of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, is one of those anomalous institutions that came into being as a wartime expedient and survived into the post-war world because it had demonstrated that it was too useful to do without. It now carries out the main continuous social surveys required by Government and a wide variety of one-off or ad hoc surveys. It also acts as a centre for advice on survey methodology and management, provides a link between Government and private sector research firms and keeps closely in touch with academics concerned with the development and improvement of survey methodology.

The Social Survey is proud of its tradition and the standards it has helped to set for sample survey research in Great Britain. Its present approach is characterised by an adherence to probability sampling, the use of well motivated and well trained interviewers, the careful piloting and development of field procedures, the use of structured questionnaires, careful attention to detail in processing and analysing the data and a firm belief that those who collect data should also analyse and report on it if they are to learn from experience. These standards have tended to make it appear costly on some occasions and misunderstood on others.