What we offer
In the recently established GESIS Panel.dbd Digital Behavioral Data Sample, panelists participate in repeated surveys and digital behavioral data collections such as web tracking, where participants' web browsing behavior (including the content of website visits) is recorded. We offer the academic community the opportunity to participate in these data collections free of charge. In contrast to previous web tracking studies, the panel is based on a hybrid sampling design that also includes a large probability-based subsample (~ 50% of the sample). The web browsing histories are collected through the new GESIS Web Tracking service. We invite academic researchers interested in linked web tracking and survey data to submit research proposals with the survey items they need for their projects.
Accepted survey items will be fielded in February 2025, and the resulting survey data can be linked to our continuous web tracking data that we have been collecting since April 2024. Please note that we only accept a cross-sectional research design for the survey component of your proposal (to be fielded in February 2025). Also note that we do not accept research proposals that only focus on collecting survey data without a clear vision for linking with web tracking data.
How to submit your research proposal
- Please fill out our Submission Form (208 kB) (208 kB). Submissions will undergo a timely internal review process (see timeline below). The submission form should concisely describe your research question and/or hypotheses, theoretical background, and research design.
- Please include in the GESIS Panel.dbd questionnaire (21 kB) (21 kB) template the survey items/instruments in German that you propose to deploy in February 2025. Total survey time should not exceed 5 minutes.
We look forward to receiving your proposals via email: info(at)gesis-panel(dot)org.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
What is the timeline?
We have reserved survey time in the first survey wave of 2025 for this call (“wave ma”). The timeline is as follows:
- Deadline for submissions (October 1, 2024)
- Decision and notification about acceptance of proposals (end of October 2024)
- If necessary, timely revision of proposed survey items (until mid-November 2024)
- Fielding of wave “ma” (February 1 to March 8, 2025)
- Provision of survey data and access to web tracking data (fall 2025)
More information about the GESIS Panel.dbd
The GESIS Panel.dbd enables the integrated collection of online survey and web tracking data. It is open to all academic researchers from the social and behavioral sciences and related fields who want to investigate social phenomena resulting from digitalization or test established theories with new research data.
The GESIS Panel.dbd sample was realized with a hybrid sampling design. Participants were recruited from high-quality, probability-based GESIS surveys such as ALLBUS, GLES, or the GESIS Panel.pop Population Sample (formerly known as “GESIS Panel”). A further part of the sample was drawn from a register-based population sample specifically for this purpose. These probability-based samples were supplemented with people who were recruited via advertisements on Facebook and Instagram. About 600 GESIS Panel.dbd participants are already enrolled in our continuous web tracking data collection. Additional recruitments into the panel and web tracking will happen by the end of 2024.
The GESIS Panel.dbd Digital Behavioral Data Sample and the GESIS Panel.pop Population Sample are both samples of the GESIS Panel, which is aimed at both academic primary and secondary research. Primary researchers are invited to submit their research questions and designs, which are then subject to a review process, and in case of a positive review, their items are fielded free of charge. Within each data collection wave, about five to seven minutes of interviewing time are reserved for thematic core modules (e.g., socio-demographic characteristics, media usage, political participation, work and leisure, personality) that we deem relevant background information. Secondary researchers can profit from our vast collection of survey items and existing web tracking data by requesting data access. The first data products of the GESIS Panel.dbd will be offered early 2025.
Data access and more information about the GESIS Panel.dbd
- Access to survey data and documentation:
- Data from the welcome surveys and the first panel waves will be available in fall 2025.
- A preliminary codebook from one of the welcome surveys provides an early overview of the available variables, including important socio-demographic variables.
- Access to web tracking data and documentation:
- Web tracking data will be available in various forms of aggregation. GESIS is working on solutions for providing access to sensitive web tracking data and the content (HTML) of website visits.
- Learn more about the GESIS Web Tracking service
Stay up-to-date
Stay up-to-date about the GESIS Panel by subscribing our newsletter or following us on social media.