Northern Ireland Household Panel Survey

The central purpose of the Northern Ireland Household Panel Survey (NIHPS) is to understand the dynamics of change experienced by the population of Northern Ireland and its evolution over the lifetime of the study.

Whilst NIHPS aims to provide cross-sectional population estimates, its central aim is to facilitate longitudinal research.  Thus, the primary objective of NIHPS is to provide high quality, timely data on the short-term processes of change at the individual and household level across a number of domains.  These domains are: labour markets, income, savings and wealth, household and family organisation, housing, consumption, health, social and political values, education and training.

The survey largely mirrors the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS).  Whilst NIHPS is currently in it´s eighth wave, the BHPS is now in wave 18.  The Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER), based at the University of Essex, is the overall project manager for both surveys and this ensures consistency of survey design and methodology.  Central Survey Unit of NISRA is responsible for undertaking the NI fieldwork and managing the processing and validation of the data.