COVID-19 implications on the ESS Round 10

The new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic is having widespread implications on the people, businesses and research across the world, and the ESS ERIC (European Social Survey) is no exception. The ESS Round 10 (2020/21) face-to-face data collection is due to begin in September 2020 and the coronavirus situation will most likely also have implications on this fieldwork. The ESS core scientific team (CST) has therefore agreed – in consultation with national coordinators, including the Czech national node ESS-CZ – that participating countries should aim to start face-to-face fieldwork as close as possible to 1st March 2021.

There are also concerns that face-to-face capacity might decrease more rapidly in light of the COVID-19 situation and that there may be an impact on response rates. The CST and national coordinators are therefore working together to ensure everything is ready for the future by developing alternative methods. Especially video-calls come into consideration.

CST and national coordinators also agreed, that the planned rotating modules of RSS Round 10 – Understandings and Evaluations of Democracy and Digital Social Contacts in Work and Family Life – will be complemented by several questions on COVID-19.

ESS-CZ – Czech National Node of the ESS (European Social Survey)