What is The Learner Panel?

The Learner Panel is an online panel of people in learning and training in England aged 14+.

It includes people who take part in learning and training in a range of settings: school, 6th form, further education colleges, community learning, work-based learning, apprenticeships, libraries, training centres and through learndirect.

The panel has been set up to enable research to be carried out with people who are currently in some form of learning or training via online questionnaires. The research findings help the YPLA, Skills Funding Agency and DBIS to understand your views and experiences of being in learning and training.

Who can join The Learner Panel?

Anyone aged 14 or older who is currently in some form of learning or training (except students at university and those whose current learning provider is a private/independent school) can join the panel.

How can I join The Learner Panel?

Just click on the join now button and complete a short registration questionnaire. As soon as we have a questionnaire that is relevant to you, we will send it directly to your email inbox.

I tried to join, but it said the panel is full. Why is this?

Membership to The Leaner Panel is limited to around 10,000 panellists and once all the places are filled we close the panel to new members. We do this to make sure all members of the panel have the opportunity to be sent questionnaires to complete and earn vouchers.

Why can't university students join The Learner Panel?

The Learner Panel is just for people in learning and training in schools, 6th forms, further education colleges, community learning, work-based learning, apprenticeships, libraries, training centres and through learndirect. Opinionpanel also manages The Student Panel for university students. If you are interested in joining The Student Panel go to www.studentpanel.co.uk

Why do I have to give my personal details?

We look for differences in responses to questionnaires by members' demographics (things like gender, age, course and personal interests). We therefore need to collect this information from you so we can see how the views of panellists differ according to their demographics. This information also allows us to send you questionnaires that are relevant to your circumstances. All personal data is kept confidential and not passed on to anyone else.

Why do I have to give my address?

When you join The Learner Panel and complete our surveys you will earn Bonusbond gift vouchers. We need your address so that we can send these to you.

Are my personal details being shared with anyone?

No. If you choose to join The Learner Panel, you'll need to supply your personal details to Opinionpanel. Opinionpanel will not pass on any personal information whatsoever to the YPLA, Skills Funding Agency and DBIS or any other third party.

What happens if I join and then decide I don't want to be a member?

Membership of The Learner Panel is voluntary. If you decide you no longer want to be a member, just log in and select the "unsubscribe" option, or reply to any of our emails with unsubscribe in the subject line. Well email you back to confirm that you've been unsubscribed.

Can I still join if I'm enrolled on a short course or evening class?

Yes, it doesn't matter how long the course or training is that you're enrolled on or whether it's full-time, part-time, evenings or weekends, we still want to hear your views. If you change to a different course once your current course has ended, log on to your account and tell us what learning or training you're now doing.

Can my friend do surveys for me?

No, the surveys are just for you. We look for differences in responses to questionnaires by members' demographics (things like gender, age, course and personal interests). So it is important that the person who originally joined Opinionpanel is the only one to complete the questionnaires.

What will I receive for joining The Learner Panel?

You don't get any incentive just for joining (although some people recruited by special methods will), but you will be paid in high street gift vouchers for every survey you complete. This is normally to the value of £1-£2 per survey.

What will I receive for completing a survey?

You will usually get a Bonusbond voucher worth £1-£2 for each survey you complete. You can spend these vouchers in a wide range of high street stores (www.bonusbond.com). Sometimes we may arrange a prize draw instead but we'll let you know at the start of each survey what the incentive is.

Where can I spend my vouchers?

Bonusbond gift vouchers can be spent at many high street shops all over the UK - Debenhams, Game, Boots, River Island, WHSmith, Topshop, Burton, Thorntons... For a full list of stores go to www.bonusbond.com.

I've just done a questionnaire; where's my incentive?

When you complete a questionnaire for The Learner Panel, we'll give you Bonusbond voucher. These are sent to you by post and will usually be mailed within two weeks of completing the survey.

Why can't I find any questionnaires to complete on the website?

We invite you to complete questionnaires by email, not directly from the website. This is because we have to select panellists for our questionnaires very carefully to ensure we get responses from panellists with the right characteristics for that survey. That means not everyone is selected for every questionnaire e.g. if a survey is about experiences of work-based learning and you are currently studying at school for your GCSEs, you would not be invited to that survey.

Do I HAVE to take part in a survey when I am invited to do so?

No, you only complete the surveys you have the time and interest in completing. Obviously you only earn vouchers when you participate.

On average, how long do surveys take to complete?

Typically about 10 minutes - although some may be slightly longer and some may be shorter.

Why don't I get invited to take more surveys?

We select who gets invited to each survey on the basis of meeting a selection of characteristics such as gender, age and region. Within these requirements, selections are random, so it's difficult to predict just how often we'll invite you. Keep your profile up-to-date to maximise your chances of being contacted.

Why did you invite me to take a questionnaire if I then get screened out?

When we invited you, we needed responses from panellists fitting your profile, based on gender, age etc. By the time you came to complete the survey, that quota will have filled up. Some groups are very small so this can occasionally happen even if you respond quickly.

How do I know what the right answers are?

There are no right or wrong answers. Just respond truthfully.

How long can I stay on The Learning Panel?

You can stay on The Learner Panel for as long as you are participating in some form of learning or training. If you continue your education at university, you're no longer eligible for The Learner Panel, but you will be able to join The Student Panel and keep earning incentives. Click here to find out about The Student Panel

I've changed my email address / home address / etc. What should I do?

Please keep us informed of any changes by logging in and choosing My profile. This helps maximise your chances of being contacted.

I've changed course/training. What should I do?

Please keep us informed of any changes by logging in and choosing My profile. This helps maximise your chances of being contacted.

I've forgotten my login details

Click here to receive a reminder of your login details.

I'm no longer taking part in any learning or training. What should I do?

If you're planning on enrolling onto some other learning or training in the near future then it would be great if you stay a member of The Learner Panel. Just let us know what learning or training you are doing by logging in and choosing My profile to update your details. If you don't think you'll be taking part in any further learning or training, you can unsubscribe from the panel.

Who is Opinionpanel?

We are an independent market research company. We comply with the market research society's code of conduct and will never pass on your details to any third party. We will never sell to you or send you junk mail. We have been running for over six years and have built up a solid reputation for our student and graduate panels and research findings. Government researchers, social researchers and market researchers, universities, brands and graduate recruiters all benefit from our online research services.

Who is the YPLA, Skills Funding Agency and DBIS?

The Young Person's Learning Agency (YPLA) and Skills Funding Agency are non-department publicly-funded organisation funded by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (DBIS), with a single goal: to improve the skills of England's young people and adults to ensure we have a work force of world-class standard.

The YPLA, Skills Funding Agency and DBIS's major tasks are to:

• raise participation and achievement by young people
• increase adult demand for learning
• raise skills levels for national competitiveness
• improve the quality of education and training delivery
• equalise opportunities through better access to learning
• improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the FE sector

What is the connection between Opinionpanel and the Learning and Skills Network?

The YPLA, Skills Funding Agency and DBIS have commissioned Opinionpanel to manage The Learner Panel on their behalf. This means that any research carried out through The Learner Panel remains independent - the YPLA, Skills Funding Agency and DBIS will see the aggregated results of surveys, but not your personal details.

Will you send me spam or sell my name to someone who does?

No and no. All your details remain private. Your details will not be passed on to any third parties and we will not sell or market to you.

Why should I join?

Learner Panel surveys are likely to be relevant, interesting, influential, quick and easy. Your contribution will help the YPLA, Skills Funding Agency and DBIS to understand the views and experiences of those in learning and training. You'll also get to earn vouchers for every survey you complete and we send you feedback on the results to give you an idea of what you and other members of the panel are saying.

How often will you send me surveys?

That depends on many factors. Respondents tend to be selected on the basis of their demographic profile, so it's impossible to predict how often any one profile will be picked. We do endeavour to contact everyone fairly.

How do I leave The Learner Panel?

Just log in and select the "unsubscribe" option, or reply to any of our emails with unsubscribe in the subject line. We'll email you back to confirm that you've been unsubscribed.

How long will my personal details be kept for?

We will keep your details for as long as you are a member of The Learner Panel. When you unsubscribe we will delete all of your personal details.

I am having technical problems completing a survey. What should I do?

Contact us by email at support@opinionpanel.co.uk.