Since 2019, Vytautas Magnus University (VDU) has been conducting the European Social Survey (ESS), one of the most significant international social science surveys in Europe. The ESS systematically analyses social, political and value development processes in Europe, enabling comparisons to be made between different countries.
What Does ESS Study, and Why?
The main objective of ESS, carried out by the V. Kavolis Transdisciplinary Research Institute, is to ensure high-quality, reliable, and internationally comparable data on changes in living conditions, social structure, opinions, and values in Europe. The survey enables us to observe both changes and stability over time, making it a valuable tool for analysing long-term social trends.
The data collected is important for more than just academic research. It is also used to inform evidence-based public policy, highlight urgent social issues and find effective solutions.
The study uses a standard questionnaire that covers topics such as media and social trust, politics, subjective well-being, social exclusion, religion and identity, socio-demographic profiles and human values.
In addition, each wave includes thematic modules that allow for a deeper analysis of current issues. In Lithuania, for example, the focus is on attitudes towards social well-being, age discrimination, the relationship between family and work, perceptions of democracy, social inequality in health, climate change and energy, the role of gender in contemporary Europe, and attitudes towards immigrants and refugees.
ESS also seeks to maintain and develop an advanced research infrastructure that meets the highest methodological standards. Continuous methodological research and innovation ensure that the data collected is reliable and that its analysis is scientifically sound. Additionally, significant attention is devoted to training and enhancing data utilisation skills, ensuring that research outcomes can be effectively applied within the academic community and in public policy. Read more about training here.
Long-Standing International Initiative
The ESS initiative was established in June 2001. Its central research group is led by Professor Rory Fitzgerald from City, University of London (United Kingdom). The research is being carried out in collaboration with seven institutional partners: Pompeu Fabra University (Spain), Centerdata (the Netherlands), the Institute of Public Goods and Policies (Spain), the University of Essex (the United Kingdom), the Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences (Germany), SIKT (Norway) and Utrecht University (the Netherlands). This broad network of partners ensures high scientific quality and methodological consistency. The ESS currently operates as the European Social Survey ERIC (European Social Survey European Research Infrastructure Consortium), a consortium of European research infrastructures bringing together nearly 40 countries, including Lithuania.
The ESS currently operates as a European research infrastructure consortium, the European Social Survey ERIC, bringing together nearly 40 countries, including Lithuania. The survey has been conducted every two years since 2001 and is considered one of the most rigorous social surveys in Europe from a methodological perspective.
International Recognition
The ESS is widely regarded as one of the most advanced and methodologically rigorous social surveys in Europe. Prof. Dr. Rory Fitzgerald, head of the ESS central research team, emphasises:
“The European Social Survey has already established itself as an important pillar of the European Research Area. The methods used and the methodological research programme ensure that the infrastructure remains ‘state of the art’ and helps Europe occupy a leading position in comparative social sciences worldwide.”
Asooc. Prof. Dr. Aurelija Stelmokienė, the ESS project manager in Lithuania and the Lithuanian representative at the ESS General Assembly, states:
“This research infrastructure ensures the continuous collection of data on people’s attitudes, beliefs and behaviours in different countries, encouraging their use in studies, science and important public policy decisions. It is an excellent tool for building bridges between high-quality science and real-world practice.”
Meanwhile, Janez Potocnik, the former EU Commissioner for Science and Research, emphasises the importance of the ESS at the EU level:
“The European Social Survey has developed a unique scientific methodology for assessing change, providing a reliable source of EU data for academics and policymakers.”
Growing Use in Lithuania and Worldwide
ESS data is open and widely available for non-commercial use. It is used by students, teachers, researchers, policymakers, business representatives, non-governmental organisations, journalists and other interested parties.
As of January 2026, 268,812 users had registered to access ESS data worldwide, indicating a steadily growing interest in this infrastructure. In countries where no such infrastructure has been developed, ESS is particularly important, both nationally and in comparison with other European countries, as it attracts thousands of users from across Europe.
In January 2025, Lithuania had 2,129 registered ESS users, most of whom were students. The importance of this research in Lithuania is steadily growing, given the need to address complex social, demographic and geopolitical challenges. The variety of recurring and changing themes examined in the study enables the identification of global and national issues, such as social exclusion, lack of trust in institutions, lack of citizen engagement in public governance, changing gender roles, digitalisation processes, climate change and energy challenges.
Where to Find the Data?
In Lithuanian, ESS data are available through the VDU CRIS system, where datasets from the 9th (2018), 10th (2021), and 11th (2024) rounds are published. This provides an opportunity for Lithuanian researchers, students, and other users to work with national data in their native language, conduct analyses, and prepare academic papers or applied research.
At the international level, data from all survey rounds (1–11) in English are available through the official European Social Survey data portal. Here, users can not only download full datasets but also use integrated online analysis tools, review variable descriptions, and create visualizations. This open access ensures that ESS data are widely used in international comparative research and public policy analysis.
Meanwhile, ESS news, updates, and information about ongoing activities can be followed at both the national and international levels. In Lithuania, updates about the ESS, data availability, and events related to the survey are published on the website subpage Europos socialinis tyrimas and on the ESTLietuvoje Facebook page. In English, information is published on the official ESS website as well as on its social media channels – Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
The ESS remains one of the most important infrastructures for the systematic analysis of the development of European societies. The ESS, conducted in Lithuania by the V. Kavolis Transdisciplinary Research Institute, strengthens the country’s participation in the international research arena, enabling decisions to be based on reliable and comparable data.
