CRONOS-1 Correspondence edition 1.0

Building on previous experience of mixed-mode research, the ESS developed a CROss-National Online Survey (CRONOS-1) panel in 2016. CRONOS-1 was the first attempt to establish a cross-national probability-based online panel following a harmonised approach – from the recruitment stage to data processing.

This web pilot study aimed to assess the effectiveness of panel recruitment off the back of an existing cross-national face-to-face survey (ESS Round 8) in terms of costs, sample representativeness, participation rates, panel attrition, and data quality.

After completing the ESS face-to-face interview, respondents in Estonia, Great Britain and Slovenia aged 18 or older were invited to participate in six 20-minute online surveys over twelve months. Respondents who did not have internet access for private use were offered a tablet and an internet connection for the duration of the project.

CRONOS-1 was designed and implemented alongside ESS Round 8 (2016/17), as part of the Synergies for Europe’s Research Infrastructures in the Social Sciences (SERISS) project. The project was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 654221. The CRONOS initiative was also supported by ESS ERIC Work Programmes (2015-17) and (2017-19).