Results and impact

Your continuing support of the NatCen Opinion Panel has revealed fascinating insights into our moral attitudes, generated important public debate about critical issues such as Brexit and led to numerous newspaper headlines.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded in Britain and across the world, your participation in the Panel has been as important as ever. With your help, we’ve been able to build a picture of Britain’s experience of the pandemic, from infection rates, to how we’re spending time during lockdown, to our biggest concerns during this uncertain time. Read on for some research highlights. 

COVID-19 insights

How many people in Britain have already been infected with the coronavirus?

Researchers at the London School of Economics have used your data to estimate the rate of coronavirus infection in the population. Before widespread testing was available, our survey data provided an alternative way of measuring how many people have experienced coronavirus symptoms using a more representative sample. See the full article here.

How has the nation been spending their time during lockdown?

An innovative time-use study conducted with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed deeper perspectives on the crisis. The study found that, on the whole, Britons are spending less time travelling and working, and more time gardening, doing DIY and resting. But the experience has been different for those with the lowest household incomes, who increased their total time in paid work and are less likely to have started working at home. This may reflect the fact that those in the lowest income groups are more likely to be key workers than those in the highest income groups. For more details visit the ONS website.

Other fascinating insights

We have also collected data about social and moral attitudes.

News coverage of the Opinion Panel  

Here are just a few of the most recent newspaper headlines that have been written about the Opinion Panel.

• Sturgeon's independence case in tatters as Scots don't want seperate Brexit deal, Express
• Brexit: Not so hard but not so easy, The Economist 
• Give us back our borders! Major study finds immigration controls are the key Brexit demand of voters with nearly three quarters urging a visa system, The Daily Mail 

See the findings   

You can read some of the reports, based on the questions you answered, here.

• The Economics of Brexit in voters' eyes

Find out why the the Remain side’s economic arguments prove insufficient in the Brexit debate. Read on ...

• What do voters want from Brexit?

Nine in ten people would like free trade with EU countries to continue. Find out what else the public wants from Britain's negotiations with the EU. Read on ...