SOEP-IS Innovative Modules

The SOEP Innovation Sample (SOEP-IS) enables innovative data collection for the scientific community. It is particularly suited for:

• The establishment of new and target group-specific measurement instruments in long-term surveys.
• Short- and long-term experiments (incentivized or unincentivized).
• The collection of non-survey data (e.g., biomarkers or app-based studies).

On the SOEP-IS Research Data website, you can find detailed information about existing SOEP-IS datasets.

For an overview of implemented and ongoing innovation modules, please visit the SOEP-IS Companion website.

SOEP-IS gives researchers the opportunity to collect household-level microdata directly related to their own research questions. It is particularly valuable for projects that require panel information about households and the attitudes or behaviors of their members. Examples of implemented innovation modules include behavioral experiments, Implicit Association Tests (IATs), and complex time-use measures such as the Day Reconstruction Method.

Data collected from innovation modules are exclusively available to the submitting researchers for 12 months. After this embargo period, the data are made available to all researchers who have signed a SOEP user agreement.

The Standard Application Procedure is open to researchers from all scientific disciplines who wish to propose new survey modules for inclusion in SOEP-IS. The Collaborative Grant-Based Application is designed for researchers planning to include a SOEP-IS module as part of a third-party grant proposal (e.g., DFG, ERC) in coordination with SOEP. While both paths follow the same principles of transparency, peer review, and scientific quality, each has its own time allocation within the annual SOEP-IS data collection. Modules submitted through the grant-based path cannot displace or reduce the time reserved for standard applications. This ensures a balanced use of survey resources and equal access for all researchers.

Module proposals must be submitted via the online form no later than January 16, 2026 (23:59 CET).

Submission Guidelines

• All submissions must be written in English.
• Proposals must not overlap with existing SOEP data except for repeated modules (see paneldata.org and SOEPcompanion). For repeating modules, a follow-up application is required and must follow the same procedure as standard submissions.
• Data collection is free of charge. However, for behavioral experiments and modules that involve additional expenses—such as monetary incentives or biomarker collection (e.g., saliva samples)—applicants are expected to cover these extra costs.
• If accepted, the SOEP-IS team will adapt and finalize question wording in collaboration with the proposing researchers.
• Two modes of data collection are available:
  • Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI)
  • Computer-Assisted Web Interviews (CAWI)
• The final proposal must specify the intended mode(s). Other modes are possible but require additional external funding.
• Applicants must upload a preliminary version of their proposed module, written in English, as a PDF file via the online form. The form also allows applicants to upload an optional additional file if they wish the evaluation team to consider further relevant information. Please attach only materials that help clarify your proposal; CVs or full application forms are not required at this stage. Make sure to include the title of your application in all uploaded files and name the files accordingly.Before submission, please consult this document and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) carefully. If you are unsure about the feasibility of your idea, contact the SOEP-IS team for advice.

Evaluation Process

Proposals will be evaluated by a scientific committee consisting of researchers from SOEP (SOEP-Core and SOEP-IS), the SOEP Survey Committee, and the SOEP-IS Advisory Board.

Decisions are based on several criteria such scientific merit, suitability, and feasibility, considering limited survey time and sample size. Modules that are scientifically strong but too long, complex, or resource-intensive may be declined.

We strongly recommend that applicants familiarize themselves with:

• SOEP-IS guidelines [On this website]
• The FAQ page  
• Past SOEP-IS modules.

Possible Outcomes

• Conditional Acceptance: Proceed to Stage 2 with the full application due by April 30, 2026.
• Revision: Applicants may revise their proposal based on feedback and submit a full application by April 30, 2026.
• Rejection: The proposal is not accepted for the current survey wave.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be assessed based on scientific merit, suitability, and feasibility.

The following factors will be considered:

a.    Scientific Rigor and Relevance

• Potential for high-impact publications and scientific innovation.
• Sound analytical framework, empirical design, and analysis plan.

b.    Suitability for SOEP-IS

• Why SOEP-IS? Added value of using a longitudinal household panel.
• Panel vs. cross-sectional: Does the project utilize the longitudinal nature of SOEP-IS?
• Multidisciplinarity: Does the module integrate perspectives across disciplines?
• Existing data use: How does it relate to SOEP-IS core variables?
• Relevance: Is the topic of broad interest to the SOEP community?

c.    Feasibility

• Questions must be understandable across educational backgrounds and age groups.
• Modules must respect respondent privacy.
• Modules requiring minimal response time (1–3 minutes) are prioritized, and under no circumstances should modules exceed 5 minutes. Researchers are advised to test the duration of their modules to obtain a realistic estimate and to account for the heterogeneity present in general population samples when doing so.
• The limited SOEP-IS sample size must be considered.
• Modules must be technically implementable by the data collection partner.

Additional Considerations

• Internationally comparable or broadly applicable modules are preferred over narrowly national or niche topics.
• SOEP-IS strongly supports Open Science and best research practices.
• Accepted modules are strongly encouraged to preregister before receiving the data.
• Upon publication, analysis code and documentation must be made publicly available. By submitting a module, applicants agree to this requirement.

Shortlisted researchers will be invited to submit a full proposal by April 30, 2026 (23:59 CET), using the official application template.

Full proposals must include:

• Detailed module description
• A short review of relevant literature
• Hypotheses
• Analysis plan
• Complete contents for the questionnaire (e.g., questions, instructions, possible answers, scales) in both English and German

Final Decision and Next Steps

• Final decisions will be announced by July 15, 2026.
• Accepted proposals will be implemented in the following survey year (2027).
• Researchers will be informed about the planned field start and will collaborate with SOEP-IS survey management on design and implementation.
• The SOEP-IS team may request pilot tests or revisions as needed.
• Researchers will be given access to test and approve their modules before data collection begins.

Costs

• Integration of accepted questions into SOEP-IS is free of charge.
• For behavioral experiments, biomarker collection, or new data collection modes, external funding is required.
• If additional subsamples are required, applicants must secure external funding.

Key Dates

Data collection for the 2027 survey year is scheduled between Q3 2027 and Q1 2028. Final raw data are expected to be available for release to the submitting researchers in Q2 2028. The 12-month embargo period begins upon delivery of the data.

SOEP-IS supports researchers who wish to include a SOEP-IS survey module in a third-party grant application, such as those to the DFG, ERC, or comparable funding agencies.

Application Process

Researchers must contact SOEP-IS before submitting their external grant proposal. Applications must be made through the first-stage SOEP-IS application form, available on the SOEP-IS website. While we accept applications on a rolling basis in this application scheme, applicants should approach us no later than November 30, 2025 (23:59 CET), for us to be able to coordinate the time allocation in a fair and timely manner. Applications received after this date can only be considered for the 2028 wave. Please note that only applications formally submitted through the online submission form will be considered.

Review and Support

Applications submitted through this path undergo a fast-track SOEP-IS review, focusing on feasibility, technical integration, and methodological fit with the SOEP-IS design. The scientific merit of the proposal is primarily assessed by the external funding body (e.g., DFG).

If the module is deemed feasible, SOEP-IS will

• issue a support letter confirming feasibility for inclusion in the grant application, and
• grant access to the second-stage SOEP-IS application process.

If the external grant is approved, the researcher must then submit the final (second stage, by April 30^th) SOEP-IS application, which can be completed in parallel with the grant process. If the external grant proposal is not funded, the corresponding SOEP-IS module proposal will not proceed.

Transparency and Fairness

All collaborative, grant-based proposals are reviewed according to fair and transparent procedures. SOEP-IS is committed to maintaining equal treatment of all applicants and upholding the credibility of its review process. Therefore, we only consider applications done through the online application form.

Time Allocation and Cost Coverage

Each year, SOEP-IS allocates approximately ten minutes of total questionnaire time for collaboratively developed, grant-based modules. As available questionnaire time and sample capacity fluctuate, exact allocations cannot be guaranteed.

Projects following this path are expected to cover their own data collection costs, including sampling, programming, and fieldwork. This arrangement represents cost-recovery rather than commercialization, ensuring that SOEP-IS remains a sustainable public research infrastructure. This path allows researchers to develop new modules that can be integrated into SOEP-IS while preserving the survey’s scientific standards and public-good mission.

Detailed cost calculation guidelines are available here (only in German) (PDF, 118.76 KB).

Right of Rejection

SOEP-IS reserves the right to reject a proposal even after initial feasibility approval if methodological, operational, further budgetary (e.g., time and sample size) or quality concerns arise. In such cases, the decision will be reviewed by the SOEP Directorate Board, and applicants will receive a written explanation.