Frequently Asked Questions: About the Children of the 2020s study
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Who is conducting the study?
The Department for Education (DfE) have funded the Children of the 2020s study, and have asked University College London (UCL) and Ipsos, an independent research organisation, to carry out this research. They will also be supported by researchers from the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford and Birkbeck, University of London to deliver this study.
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About Ipsos, UCL and DfE
Ipsos (market research) Limited is a specialist research agency, commonly known as “Ipsos”. Ipsos is a member of the Market Research Society, and as such we abide by the Market Research Society Code of Conduct and associated regulations and guidelines.
University College London (UCL) is a leading university in London and is home to the Centre for Longitudinal Studies, which sits within UCL’s Institute of Education.
The Department for Education (DfE) is the government department responsible for education policy and childcare.
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Why is this study being conducted?
The Department for Education (DfE) want to find out what the early years are like for children growing up in England today. The data collected will be crucial for helping government understand how it can improve early education and childcare services for families in England like yours, and to enable scientists to better understand children’s development in the early years.
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Why have I been chosen?
You were chosen to take part in this important research as a parent of a child born at the beginning of the 2020s. Your details were selected at random from the Child Benefit Records, held by HM Revenue & Customs.
If you are part of the Children of the 2020s pilot study and took part in the first survey when your child was around 9 months old, your details were also selected at random from Child Benefit Records. If you did not take part in the pilot survey when your child was around 9 months old, you will have been specially recruited to take part in the pilot survey now your child is around two years old.
Please note that participation in this study will not affect any benefits you are receiving now or in the future.
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What will you ask me about?
We will ask you about: who lives in your house, your employment situation (including parental leave), your child’s personality, language and health, the support you receive from people in your life, your own wellbeing, your childcare arrangements and use of services.
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Who has approved this research?
This research has been reviewed by the Research Ethics Committee of University College London; an independent group of people to protect your safety, rights, wellbeing and dignity.
If you wish to make a complaint about the conduct of the study you can contact the Chair of the UCL Research Ethics Committee by emailing: ethics@ucl.ac.uk or writing to: Office of the Vice-Provost (Research), University College London, 2 Taviton Street, London, WC1H 0BT.