Cover Image

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the design of repeated cross-sectional and panel surveys in Germany

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a major challenge for the implementation of population surveys, particularly longitudinal studies such as repeated cross-sectional and panel surveys. Since these surveys aim to measure change in many indicators over time, any modifications to their design must be carefull...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gummer, Tobias (Author) , Glasenapp, Karolina von (Author) , Skora, Thomas (Author) , Bartholomäus, Saskia (Author) , Naumann, Elias (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 05 December 2025
In: International journal of public opinion research
Year: 2025, Volume: 37, Issue: 4, Pages: 1-10
ISSN:1471-6909
DOI:10.1093/ijpor/edaf062
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpor/edaf062
Get full text
Author Notes:Tobias Gummer, Karolina von Glasenapp, Thomas Skora, Saskia Bartholomäus, and Elias Naumann
Description
Summary:The COVID-19 pandemic posed a major challenge for the implementation of population surveys, particularly longitudinal studies such as repeated cross-sectional and panel surveys. Since these surveys aim to measure change in many indicators over time, any modifications to their design must be carefully considered as they might compromise comparability over time. In our study, we examined how the pandemic affected the data collection of longitudinal surveys in particular survey design. Utilizing the metadata of 576 surveys conducted as part of 95 longitudinal survey programs in Germany, we showed how existing longitudinal surveys differed in their survey collection practices from the newly established longitudinal surveys. Existing surveys were less likely to implement changes compared to the newly established surveys, except for those existing surveys that relied on face-to-face interviews, which often switched their mode. In contrast, to speed up data collection, the newly established surveys frequently employed survey designs that differed from the high-quality survey designs of existing surveys.
Item Description:Gesehen am 19.08.2026
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1471-6909
DOI:10.1093/ijpor/edaf062

Similar Items