German Internet Panel (GIP)

Citation

  • Title: German Internet Panel (GIP)
  • Authors: Annelies Blom, Ulrich Krieger, et al. (for additional authors see each wave respectively)
  • Citation: All work using German Internet Panel data must include the following references:
    • This paper uses data from the German Internet Panel wave(s) XX (DOIs:[insert DOIs here]), (Blom et al. [year of data release]). A study description can be found in Blom et al. (2015). The German Internet Panel is funded by the German Research Foundation through the Collaborative Research Center 884 "Political Economy of Reforms" (SFB 884).
    • Each wave has its own DOI and reference that can be found at the website of the GESIS data archive.
    • Blom, A. G., Gathmann, C., and Krieger, U. (2015). Setting Up an Online Panel Representative of the General Population: The German Internet Panel. Field Methods, 27(4), 391-408. DOI: 10.1177/1525822X15574494
  • DOI: (see each wave, respectively)
  • URL: www.uni-mannheim.de/gip

Study Info

The German Internet Panel (GIP) is a longitudinal panel survey of the Collaborative Research Center SFB 884 "Political Economy of Reforms".

As a SFB 884 infrastructure project, the GIP collects data on individual attitudes and preferences relevant in political and economic decision-making processes. The data obtained provide the empirical basis for the scientific research of the SFB projects. All GIP survey data are made available to the scientific community via the GESIS Data Archive for the Social Sciences as scientific use files.

The topics covered in the GIP are divers and include attitudes towards the reform policies, the welfare state, German and EU politics, health, social inequality, education, employment and key socio-demographic information. Questionnaire modules on these topics are developed by SFB 884 researchers in collaboration with the GIP team. GIP online questionnaires of 20-25 minutes are implemented bi-monthly.

For publications with GIP data please visit: www.uni-mannheim.de/en/gip/results/publications

Data access

The GIP data are available to the scientific community via the GESIS Data Archive for the Social Sciences as scientific use files

To order the scientific use files please proceed as described in the following document: GIP Data Access Manual.

Method

  • Data collector: GIP team, SFB 884, University of Mannheim

  • Population: Persons living in private households in Germany and aged 16-75 at the time of recruitment.

  • Sampling method: All GIP samples are multi-stage random samples which are regionally clustered. The 2012 and 2014 samples are additionally clustered in households.

  • Recruitment method: The 2012 and 2014 samples were recruited with face-to-face interviews during which respondents were invited to the online panel. Sampled persons without access to the internet were provided with the necessary equipment, internet, and support. The 2018 sample was recruited via postal invitations.

  • Sample sizes and response rates: An overview of all sample sizes and response rates can be found in the following document: GIP Response Rates.

  • Incentives: For their participation GIP panel members receive 4€ per completed questionnaire as well as a bonus of 5€ for completing five or 10€ for all six waves within a year. Incentives are paid out twice a year and panel members can choose whether to receive their incentives via bank transfer, as an online voucher or whether to donate it to charity. In addition, several SFB-projects incentivize panel members in various different ways.

Further information on the GIP methodology is available at the following sources:

  • General information:

    • Website: www.uni-mannheim.de/gip
    • Blom, A. G., Gathmann, C., and Krieger, U. (2015). Setting Up an Online Panel Representative of the General Population: The German Internet Panel. Field Methods, 27(4), 391-408. DOI: 10.1177/1525822X15574494
  • Information on the inclusion of the offline population:

    • Blom, A. G., Herzing, J. M. E., Cornesse, C., Sakshaug, J. W., Krieger, U., and Bossert, D. (2016). Does the Recruitment of Offline Households Increase the Sample Representativeness of Probability-Based Online Panels? Evidence from the German Internet Panel. Social Science Computer Review, 35(4), 498-520. DOI: 10.1177/0894439315574825
    • Herzing, J. M. E. and Blom, A. G. (2018). The Influence of a Person's IT Literacy on Unit Nonresponse and Attrition in an Online Panel. Social Science Computer Review, Published Online First on 20th May 2018. DOI: 10.1177/0894439318774758.
  • Information on cross-national collaborations: Blom, A. G., Bosnjak, M., Cornilleau, A., Cousteaux, A.-S., Das, M., Douhou, S., and Krieger, U. (2016). A Comparison of Four Probability-Based Online and Mixed-Mode Panels in Europe, Social Science Computer Review, 34(1), 8-25. DOI: 10.1177/0894439315574825

Missing conventions

The following codes apply in the GIP datasets:

Code: Meaning

  • -99: „weiß nicht“/„keine Meinung” - refusal for lack of knowledge

  • -98: „möchte ich nicht sagen”/ „keine Angabe” - explicit refusal

  • -97: „trifft nicht zu” - refusal for lack of applicability

  • -91: 'bitte wählen'-Platzhalter - dummy in drop-down menus

  • -90: Frage nicht beantwortet - question not answered, implicit refusal, item nonresponse

  • -80: Wert nicht plausibel (im Rahmen der Datenaufbereitung vergeben) - value not plausible (assigned during data preparation)

  • . or [ ]: Frage nicht angezeigt (z.B.: aufgrund von Filtern oder Abbrüchen) - question not shown e.g. because of filter or previous breakoff

  • Name: gip
  • Label: German Internet Panel (GIP)
  • : 60
  • : 9369
  • : 60
  • : 4365

German Socio-economic Panel (SOEP)