European social survey data available via the UK Data Archive

• Eurobarometer Survey Series (UK Data Archive generic study number 33089) In 1974, the Eurobarometer was conducted in the nine member nations: France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, the In 1974, the Eurobarometer was conducted in the nine member nations: France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland and Luxembourg. Since then, the Eurobarometers have been carried out in the Spring and Autumn of each year. In addition to obtaining regular readings of support for European integration and the perceived quality of life, each of the Eurobarometers has explored a variety of special topics. Also, attitudes toward the organization and role of the European Parliament have been explored in each Eurobarometer beginning with Barometer 7 in the Spring of 1977. The Eurobarometer surveys have included Greece since Autumn 1980 (Number 14), Portugal and Spain since Autumn 1985 (Number 24), the former German Democratic Republic since Autumn 1990 (Number 34), Finland since the spring of 1993 (Number 39), and Sweden and Austria since the autumn of 1994 (Number 42). Norway has been included in some surveys from Number 36 onwards since 1991.
• Complementary Eurobarometers Small-scale Flash Eurobarometers were launched in the eighties. These include special target group polls Small-scale Flash Eurobarometers were launched in the eighties. These include special target group polls starting with the the Top Decision Makers Survey pilot study in 1996, and with emphasis on manager polls on enterprise related EU topics. In addition, from 1990 to 1997 there was an annual Central and Eastern Eurobarometer (CEEB) survey series to monitor economic and political changes, and attitudes towards Europe and the European Union in up to 20 countries of the region. In October 2001, a new series of surveys in the 13 countries that are applying for European Union membership was launched under the heading Candidate Countries Eurobarometer.
• International Social Survey Programme (UK Data Archive generic study number 33213) Formed in 1983, the ISSP develops topical modules dealing with important areas of social science as supplements to regular Formed in 1983, the ISSP develops topical modules dealing with important areas of social science as supplements to regular national surveys. Every survey includes questions about general attitudes toward various social issues such as the legal system, sexual relations, and the economy. Special topics have included the environment, the role of government, social inequality, social support, family and gender issues, work orientation, the impact of religious background, behaviour, and beliefs on social and political preferences, and national identity. Participating countries vary for each topical module. The merging of the data into a cross-national dataset is performed by the Central Archive for Empirical Social Research (ZA) (University of Cologne, Germany).

The UK Data Archive can help users to locate and acquire data from other Archives within Europe using a series of reciprocal agreements with the individual institutions. Available data includes historical and contemporary data and data important for cross-national comparative research. Information on several key series are available through the UKDA's online catalogue and dedicated web pages. They include the Eurobarometer Survey Series and the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP).

The Eurobarometer was launched in 1974 and is conducted on behalf of the European Commission to provide regular monitoring of the social and political attitudes in the European Union (European Community). Since the early seventies representative national samples in all European Union (European Community) member countries are simultaneously interviewed in each spring and each autumn.

The ISSP is a continuing annual programme of cross-national collaboration on surveys covering topics important for social science research. Since 1983 it has brought together pre-existing social science projects and co-ordinated research goals, thereby adding a cross-national, cross-cultural perspective to the individual national studies.

European Commission; International Social Survey Programme

Component studies of data series are supplied separately, usually as quarterly or annual datasets.

The data are available to UK Data Archive registered users for the purposes of not-for-profit (i.e. non-commercial) research or teaching.

Users must also be UK residents or be registered at UK institutions of higher or further education. Non-UK or commercial users should contact the Central Archive for Empirical Social Research (ZA) (University of Cologne, Germany) for advice on availability.

Central Archive for Empirical Social Research (ZA) (University of Cologne, Germany); Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR - USA)

Sources for the information in this record include the UK Data Archive catalogue records and the ZA web site.

Record created by Karen Dennison, UK Data Archive.

UK Data Archive web pages:

• Search Catalogue
• European Data

External web pages:

• Central Archive for Empirical Social Research (ZA) (University of Cologne, Germany): Eurobarometer Survey Series
• European Commission: Public Opinion
• International Social Survey Programme

Users are required to agree to certain conditions of use, including those governing reproduction and those relating to citation, acknowledgement and disclaimer for publications.

Related datasets held at the UK Data Archive are listed in the appropriate UK Data Archive online catalogue records.

References and publications by principal investigators and resulting from secondary analysis are listed in the UK Data Archive online catalogue records.

Users should also consult the publications link on the Eurobarometer Survey Series web page at the ZA web site and publications and papers and articles links on the ISSP web site.