16 October 2008
Research published today reports on a methodological study to develop more effective and robust ways to establish pensioners’ standard of living (whether they are ‘materially deprived’) for the Family Resources Survey.
Previously published DWP research had shown that questions about material deprivation for the Family Resources Survey did not work as effectively for pensioners as they did for families with children. Therefore, a programme of methodological research was undertaken to improve the questions for pensioners. As a result of the research, a separate set of questions to establish pensioners’ material deprivation was included in the Family Resources Survey from May this year.
The research programme included:
The findings highlighted the reluctance that some pensioners have to admitting to any element of deprivation. They may not admit that they do not have certain items through any inability to afford them, but instead suggest they do not want those things. The cognitive testing helped produce improved question wording and a more reliable structuring of the questions.
Analysis of the omnibus questions helped to identify appropriate items to include in the new set of questions on the Family Resources Survey, based on what is regarded by pensioners as essential and which items are most commonly lacked by those on a lower income.
This new set of questions represents considerable progress in identifying material deprivation among pensioners.
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