The European Social Survey
The European Social Survey (the ESS) is a biennial multi-country survey covering over 30 nations. The first round was fielded in 2002/2003, the fifth in 2010/2011.
The European Social Survey (the ESS) is a biennial multi-country survey covering over 30 nations. The first round was fielded in 2002/2003, the fifth in 2010/2011.
The project is funded jointly by the European Commission, the European Science Foundation and academic funding bodies in each participating country, and is designed and carried out to exceptionally high standards. The project is directed by a Core Scientific Team led by Rory Fitzgerald at the Centre for Comparative Social Surveys, City University, London.
The questionnaire
The questionnaire includes two main sections, each consisting of approximately 120 items; a 'core' module which remains relatively constant from round to round, plus two or more 'rotating' modules, repeated at intervals. The core module aims to monitor change and continuity in a wide range of social variables, including media use; social and public trust; political interest and participation; socio-political orientations; governance and efficacy; moral; political and social values; social exclusion, national, ethnic and religious allegiances; well-being; health and security; human values; demographics and socio-economics.
Methodological data
The ESS collects a wide range of methodological data, including tests of reliability, call records, data on interview settings and event data.
Access to data
The data are available free of charge and without restrictions, for not-for-profit purposes. To access data files, you have to register as an ESS data user. If already registered, log in with your registered e-mail address as username. You don’t have to log in to get access to the documentation files.
ESS Home Page
For further information about the ESS, please go to the ESS Home Site.
