Our user guides provide practical information about Understanding Society data, including study design, data collection, variable guidance and advice on using the data for research.
Waves 1–15
The User Guide contains information about the Study, such as sample and questionnaire design, data collection and data processing, and information about using the dataset for research. The User Guide has links to training videos and webinars to help you make the best use of these data.
tyuty
utyutyu
This guide accompanies the first edition of the Understanding Society – harmonised BHPS. It focuses on the harmonisation process, not the differences in scope, fieldwork practices, questionnaire design and content of the two studies.
November 2025
This guide contains information about connecting family members and households over time in the main Understanding Society dataset.
1995- 2018: Secure Access
This guide covers education records collected in England as part of the National Pupil Database, abbreviated to NPD.
This guide contains information about partnership spells reported by adult respondents in all Understanding Society and BHPS samples.
ert
ert
Sign up to our newsletter