FReDA-GGS Anchor Persons

The anchor persons of the FReDA-GGS sample are people who live in Germany and were 18- to 49-years-old at the time of the first survey. This sample is representative of the resident population of Germany at the time it was drawn. The people in this sample will be surveyed twice a year from 2021 onwards. They only drop out of the study when they have exceeded the age of 55, no longer wish to participate or pass away. Refresher samples will be drawn at regular intervals to replace those who have dropped out of the study due to age or other reasons.

The two surveys from the same year form one wave, because only with both surveys are the answers to all questions intended for this wave available. A wave can be evaluated cross-sectionally to obtain findings for the respective year, which under certain circumstances also allow for representative statements. In addition, several waves – or even several sub-waves – can be evaluated together longitudinally in order to examine developments and reciprocal influences. The data from FReDA waves 1, 4 and 7 can be linked with survey data from other countries within the framework of the Generations and Gender Survey (GGS) programme in order to conduct international comparative analyses.