We have answered some of the questions you may have about the online questionnaire. You can take part by clicking the link above.
Who is carrying out the study?
The study is conducted by ScotCen Social Research on behalf of the Scottish Government. We work in collaboration with academic researchers from the Centre for Research on Families and Relationships, based at Edinburgh University, and the MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, at Glasgow University.
How does this stage of the survey differ from previous stages?
Previously one of our interviewers visited you in your home but this time round we’d like you to complete an online questionnaire. This will only take 10 minutes to complete. As in previous years, the questions will be about you and your child.
What will happen to any information I give?
All the information you give us is treated in strict confidence under the Data Protection Act 1998. The results collected are used for research purposes only.
Is the information I provide safe online?
We take our responsibility to keep your personal information secure very seriously. To make sure your information is protected we use a secure website (HTTPS). This is the same type of website that you would generally see when shopping online. As part of our commitment to the security of your information, ScotCen Social Research has regular internal and external audits of its information security, and is accredited to the International Standard for Information Security, ISO 27001:2005.
I don’t have or I have lost the “access code” to get into the questionnaire.
No problem, you can either call the freephone helpline on 0800 652 2704 or email us at gus@scotcen.org.uk.
Can I complete the survey on my smartphone/tablet?
Yes, the questionnaire can be completed using a desktop or laptop computer, a smartphone or a tablet device. You just need to be connected to the internet.
Do I have to complete the questionnaire in one go?
It should only take 10 minutes to complete, but if you are interrupted and need to exit the questionnaire then you will be able to return to where you left off. The questionnaire will be saved automatically, so you can close your internet browser and return to complete it at a more convenient time. To regain access to the questionnaire, just follow the initial instructions in your letter/email and you will return to where you left off.
The questionnaire timed out.
To protect the confidentiality of your answers, the questionnaire is closed down if it is left for a period of time. Your answers will have been saved so you can log back in using the instructions in your letter/email as before and you will be returned to the point where you left off.
I don’t know how to use computers / I don’t want to do the questionnaire online.
If you are unable to complete the questionnaire online please let us know either by email gus@scotcen.org.uk or call us free on 0800 652 2704.
I have completed my questionnaire, but you still sent me a reminder.
Thank you for taking part! It might be that you completed the questionnaire after we had checked our records and sent out the reminder. We apologise, but we will have safely received you answers.
Will an interviewer visit us again?
Yes. The face-to-face interviews are still really important and your interviewer will be in contact again once your child is a bit older.
Will you be contacting me by email from now on?
We find email a really handy way to stay in touch, and so do many people who take part in Growing Up in Scotland. So, unless you’d prefer not to, we’d like to keep in contact using emails alongside our letters from now on. If you’d rather not be contacted by email, just let us know.
Where can I find out more?
Email us on gus@scotcen.org.uk or phone us (free) on 0800 652 2704. Our website also provides information about the study or you can follow us on Twitter @growingupinscot
