Taking part in the survey: FAQs
What do I get for taking part?
The 2023 survey will be a shorter survey than in previous years. Everyone receives a £5 voucher as a thank you for taking part.
How long does the survey take to complete?
The time taken to complete the survey varies for each person, however the 2023 survey on average will take 10 minutes.
Why can’t different people be selected each year?
You have provided lots of information since we started talking to you in 2013. Providing us with information about your life
every year means that we can connect the data we already have about you to your answers each year and track changes that happen over time.
This means you can’t be replaced!
Do I need to prepare?
No, none of the questions require you to have any prior knowledge on any topic or have anything prepared.
Do I have to answer all the questions?
No, if you do not want to answer a question you can continue the survey at the next question.
What if I don’t know an answer?
If you are unsure how to answer a question, you can choose to answer with ‘don’t know’.
Will anyone be able to identify me in the reports?
No, never. Before data is released for statistical purposes, information is anonymised. The reports do not contain any personally identifiable information.
I no longer want to take part. What do I do?
If you no longer wish to be involved in the study, contact Verian (formerly known as Kantar Public) on:
Email - ourfuturestudy@veriangroup.com
Phone - 0800 015 4492
Can I withdraw my data? Does this remove all data stored about me?
To withdraw your data, email Verian (formerly known as Kantar Public): ourfuturestudy@veriangroup.com
We regularly deposit anonymised data with the UK data archive, and once your data has been deposited we are unable to remove it.
We will however remove all data that we have stored about you that has not yet been deposited.
Why were my parents involved before and why aren’t they involved now?
In the first three years of the study (in 2013, 2014, 2015), your parents were also asked questions.
When you were first involved in the study, we needed your parents to provide information about your background and household.
This is information you might not have known.
We also wanted to ask your parents their views on some topics, such as what they thought about your education.
At this stage, you were too young to be able to provide consent to take part in the study without your parents.
What did you ask my parents?
Your parents were asked a range of questions including questions about household income, their happiness with your education,
your family activities and their relationship with you.
Is Our Future and the second Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE) the same thing?
Yes. A longitudinal study is a study that regularly goes back and interviews the same people. If you see anything referring to the Second Longitudinal Study of
Young People in England (LSYPE2), this is the study you are involved in! LSYPE1 is a similar study also known as Next Steps, a study that began in 2004.
Who are Verian (formerly known as Kantar Public)?
Verian (formerly known as Kantar Public) is a social research organisation. They have carried out the Our Future study since 2013 on behalf of the Department for Education.
GfK who are another social research organisation also used to be involved in the early years of the survey.
