Coventry City Council: Household Survey
In 2024/25, we used a mix of postal ‘push to web’ letter as well as face to face interviewing. Similar to methods used within the 2022 and 2021 survey.
Using GIS Mapping software, which includes Royal Mail’s Postcode Address File (PAF), we randomly selected 20,000 households across the city, stratified by Middle Layer Super Output Areas (MSOA) and Indices of Multiple Deprivation. Each sampled address was sent a letter explaining the nature of the research and how to take part online by entering a unique reference number.
Within the invite letter, the household member with the next birthday, aged 16 and over, was invited to participate in the survey. The letter highlighted the value and benefit of responding to the survey, that participation was voluntary and that responses would be confidential. It also provided a M·E·L email address and freephone telephone number to contact for further information, to opt out, or to request an alternative completion method, such as by telephone or using a translation service. A reminder mailout also included a paper version of the questionnaire and freepost return envelope.
Overall, 2,026 surveys were completed between 11th November and 6th February 2025.
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