National Centre for Social Research

UK independent social research institute

The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) is a registered charity and is the largest independent social research institute in the UK.[1][2][3] The research charity was founded in 1969 by Sir Roger Jowell[4] and Gerald Hoinville with the aim of carrying out social policy research to improve society.

NatCen is best known for its annual British Social Attitudes Survey, founded by the organisation in 1983.[5][6] The British Social Attitudes survey is Britain's longest-running annual survey of public attitudes and can be accessed for research through the UK Data Service. It uses a random probability method and face to face interviews with more than 3,000 people to help ensure that it achieves a sample that should be representative of a target population.[7] NatCen's sister organisation, the Scottish Centre for Social Research (ScotCen), carries out an equivalent of the survey in Scotland, called the Scottish Social Attitudes survey.[8][9]

In addition to the British Social Attitudes survey, NatCen collects a number of statistics on behalf of the UK government and government bodies. These include the Health Survey for England,[10] the English Housing Survey,[11] The National Diet and Nutrition Survey[12] and the Study of Early Education and Development (SEED).[13] In 2015 NatCen also launched a new panel survey called the NatCen Panel, which was the first panel survey in the UK to use a probability methodology.[14][15][16][17]

The National Centre for Social Research is not just a survey organisation, however, it is also well regarded for its research using qualitative and evaluation methods. NatCen researchers authored one of the key textbooks for qualitative researchers Qualitative Research Practice published by SAGE Publishing.[18]

## References

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1. ^ "NATIONAL CENTRE FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH". Companies House. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
2. ^ "The National Centre for Social Research". Directory of SRA members. Social Research Association. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
3. ^ "Company & charity information". NATCEN Social Research. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
4. ^ "Professor Sir Roger Jowell". Daily Telegraph. 2012. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
5. ^ "Discover - British Social Attitudes Survey". discover.ukdataservice.ac.uk. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
6. ^ "British Attitudes Survey: More Britons 'back higher taxes' - BBC News". BBC News. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
7. ^ https://www.ukdataservice.ac.uk/media/604586/natcenintrobsa.pdf [bare URL PDF]
8. ^ "UK Data Service Discover » Scottish Social Attitudes Survey". Discover.ukdataservice.ac.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
9. ^ "Scottish independence support 'at highest ever level' - BBC News". Bbc.co.uk. 15 March 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
10. ^ "Health Survey for England". Healthsurvey.hscic.gov.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
11. ^ "UK Data Service Discover » English Housing Survey". Discover.ukdataservice.ac.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
12. ^ "NatCen and MRC to deliver national diet survey | News". Research Live. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
13. ^ "Study of early education and development (SEED)". GOV.UK. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
14. ^ "ESRC-funded researchers win prestigious awards - Economic and Social Research Council". Esrc.ac.uk. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
15. ^ "Daily Research News Online no. 25439 - NatCen Scoops Key MRS Awards". Mrweb.com. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
16. ^ "Daily Research News Online no. 21783 - NatCen and JRF Set Up 'Low Income' Panel". Mrweb.com. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
17. ^ Bronwen Morgan. "NatCen and JRF launch poll of low income individuals | News". Research Live. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
18. ^ "Qualitative Research Practice - SAGE Publications Ltd". uk.sagepub.com. Retrieved 31 March 2018.