Methods Pulse Survey

Research Group

Quantitative Methods in Education Group

We bring together researchers to advance quantitative methods in education research, policymaking, and professional practice.

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Quantitative Methods Pulse Survey

Quantitative Methods in UK Social Science, 2026/27: a short, anonymous survey of how UK social scientists use quantitative methods, how confident they feel, and what training would help.

Why this survey

Quantitative methods are increasingly important across social science research, evaluation, policy and the use of evidence. Yet there is little timely evidence on which methods people use, how confident they feel, and what stops them developing their skills.

Access to training is likely to differ between disciplines, career stages, sectors and groups of people. Training that does not reach everyone can leave some researchers less able to produce, question or use quantitative evidence.

This survey takes a short snapshot of the UK social science community, so that future training can be planned around what people say they need.

Evidence on what UK social scientists need, so that methods training can be better targeted, fairer and more useful.A pulse survey: a timely snapshot through UK networks, not a statistically representative national audit.

What we want to achieve

The survey has four aims.

See which methods are in useDescribe the quantitative methods that UK social scientists and researchers use today, in and outside universities.
Understand confidenceFind out how confident people feel applying and interpreting quantitative methods, including newer tools such as generative AI.
Find the gaps and barriersIdentify the training people want, the formats that suit them, and what gets in the way of developing or using their skills.
Make training fairerLook at how needs differ across roles, sectors, disciplines and backgrounds, so that future training is equitable and inclusive.

What the findings could change

The aim is practical: evidence that the people who plan, fund and deliver methods training can act on.

Better targeted trainingQMEG and the Oxford Quantitative Methods Hub will use the findings to plan masterclasses, summer schools and other training around the gaps people report.
Evidence for the wider communityLearned societies, doctoral training programmes, funders and employers can use the public findings to see where methods skills need support.
Fairer accessResults for different groups, reported with care, can show whether some researchers are less well served by current training, and where to focus.
Change over timeIf the survey is repeated every two years, it can show whether skills and confidence are changing, and whether new training is making a difference.

From survey to training

  1. 2026/27Survey openAnonymous, online, about 10 minutes.
  2. Late 2026AnalysisResults grouped and checked so that no one can be identified.
  3. May or June 2027Public reportA short report, summaries on this page and a webinar.
  4. From 2027New trainingFindings shape future QMEG and Oxford training.
  5. Every two yearsRepeatA new wave to track change over time.

Research team

The University of Southampton leads the 2026/27 survey in collaboration with the University of Oxford.

Dr James Hall Dr James Hall Associate Professor of Psychology of Education and principal investigator Southampton Education School, University of Southampton View profile Professor Ariel Lindorff Professor Ariel Lindorff Professor of Equity in Education and co-investigator Department of Education, University of Oxford View profile

Taking part

Can I take part?
  • You are aged 18 or over
  • You are based in the UK
  • You work in, study or use social science research
You do not need to use quantitative methods yourself.
In universities Doctoral researchersPostdoctoral researchersAcademic and research staffMethods trainers
Outside universities Government and public sector analystsEvaluatorsCharity researchersResearch managers and commissionersConsultants and independent researchers
AnonymousNo names, email addresses, employers or IP addresses are collected.
No small groups reportedResults are only reported for groups of 10 or more people.
Held securelyResponses are stored on University of Southampton systems. You can leave at any point before submitting.

Hear when the survey opens

Join the QMEG mailing list, or contact James Hall at J.E.Hall@soton.ac.uk with any questions.

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