EQLS 2012 - Methodology

In an effort to provide comparable and reliable data on quality of life across Europe, Eurofound has developed a unified methodological approach and quality assurance system. Over the years, the methodology has been improved, new concerns have been integrated and the geographical scope has expanded with the enlargements of the European Union.

Fieldwork period: September 2011-February 2012 (EU Member States); May-August 2012 (non-EU countries).

Contractor: GfK Significant (Belgium).

Coverage: 27 EU Member States and 7 non-EU countries (Croatia, Iceland, Kosovo, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey)

Target population: The target population is all residents of the countries mentioned above, aged 18 or older.

Sample: The basic sample is a multi-stage, stratified, random sample. Each country is divided into sections based on region and degree of urbanisation, in each of which a number of primary sampling units (PSU) is drawn randomly. Subsequently, a random sample of households is drawn in each PSU. Finally, in each household, the person chosen for interview is the one that has his or her birthday next.

Sample size: The target sample size ranges from 1 000 in the smaller countries to 3 000 in the biggest. Upon completion of the fieldwork, the total number of interviews was 43 636.

Type of survey: Questionnaire-based with interviews conducted face to face in people's homes in the national language(s) of the country.

Type of interview: Face to face, at home, average duration 38 minutes in EU27 and 39 minutes in non-EU countries.

A technical report (English, .pdf, 1MB) on the EQLS  is available.