Longitudinal research making use of Understanding Society is now possible for the very first time with an interim release of the survey's second wave of data. It follows the deposit last November of the data from the complete Wave 1 of the survey, which first began collecting information in 2009. More than 350 researchers have already downloaded survey data from Wave 1.

The Understanding Society team hopes that the latest data release will encourage researchers across the UK and around the globe to start thinking of the longitudinal research possibilities and begin to access and use the rich and varied information available to them in their analysis.

Director of the study Nick Buck said: "We have been delighted with the response so far to the availability of data from Wave1, but the survey team is even more excited by the prospects of longitudinal research that come with the interim or partial release of Wave 2."

Wave 2 of the study includes the second round of annual interviews with people who participate in the survey, which asks wide-ranging questions about their working and personal lives, attitudes and beliefs. The survey will be following the same respondents through their lives, trackingtheir various circumstances and attitudes.

Wave 1 of the study was carried out across a 2 year period from 2009-2010, while Wave 2 took place between 2010-2011. Although Wave 2 interviews have been completed, only part of it is being made available, with the remaining information due to be released in the autumn.

Nick Buck added: "This is a wide-ranging and complex study involving thousands of householders and we only release the data once it has been thoroughly checked by our team of survey experts here at ISER. That way researchers can be guaranteed that the quality of the information they receive is world-class."

Researchers interested in using the data can access it via the Economic and Social Data Service and now also have access to range of support with the introduction of a support forum, which can be accessed via the Understanding Society website.

A team of researchers with early access to the data has already been examining the material across a range of areas - from young people's health and well-being, links between parents' income and children's achievements, and the role of social support networks in coping with stressful events, through to the division of housework and a range of specially-commissioned research using the survey's 'ethnicity boost sample'. The findings from this research were published on 27 February.