Motivation, development and use of Ungdata Junior: An annual general survey among children in Norway

Background: Too often, the background activities of social science studies remain opaque; however, by describing the Ungdata Junior survey from its initiation to the present day, we illuminate the need to include children in quantitative survey research so that their opinions may be factored into the policymaking calculus. Aim: This article aims to describe the motivation, development and application of the annual large-scale Ungdata Junior survey constructed for children in Norway. Method: Ungdata Junior is an age-adjusted survey that monitors the life activities, experiences and emotions of children in grades 5 to 7. This survey is annual and has been completed thus far by more than 57,000 children between 2017 and 2021. Conclusions: We demonstrate that large-scale child-focused surveys are feasible and reasonable.