The Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS) at the Institute of Education, University of London (UK) is seeking tenders from survey research agencies to carry out the instrument development, data collection and initial data processing for the eighth wave of the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE).

The LSYPE, also known as ‘Next Steps' to the cohort, was previously managed and funded by the Department for Education (DfE) from 2004 until 2012. In 2013, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) took over the funding of the study and management transferred to CLS.

The LSYPE study started in 2004 with young people in Year 9 (aged 13-14 years). The participants were then contacted annually until 2010. The next survey (wave 8) will take place in 2015 when the cohort will be 24-25 years old. The next wave will continue to collect information on the lives of the cohort in terms of their education, employment and economic circumstances as well as collecting further details on their family life, physical and emotional health and well-being, social participation and attitudes.

It is expected that approximately 15,000 study members will be approached for the eighth sweep. Fieldwork should take place January- July 2015. The interview will last approximately 45 minutes.

Data will be collected using a similar approach to that used in waves five to seven - a sequential mixed-mode approach. This will involve interviewing the cohort using a mixture of Computer Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI), Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) and Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI). We recommend that study members who have not been interviewed recently, that is they were last interviewed prior to wave five, to be contacted solely using face to face methods – CAPI.

The survey research organisation will be required to:

— Work closely with CLS to design and develop data collection instruments. The agency will be responsible for the production of survey instruments including all CAI programming.

— Pilot the data collection instruments on two separate occasions, hosting both a briefing and de-brief at each stage.

— Ensure that the questionnaire is comparable across the different modes of data collection and that the instruments are designed and developed to ensure a high quality of data.

— Supply and train interviewers to collect the data and monitor their work to ensure that the data is collected on schedule to a high standard.

— Maximise contact and response with cohort members using sample management and engagement techniques.

— Maintain sample information, recording any updates in contact information as well as collecting relevant para-data.

— Conduct initial data processing i.e. coding, editing and checking prior to delivering the data to CLS.

— To provide full documentation of the data collection instruments.