Building a data infrastructure for understanding Icelanders in a global context

“We live in a time when research and science face increasing challenges, particularly in the social sciences. That is why it is more important than ever to continue participating in international surveys, so that researchers in Iceland and abroad can analyse and understand Icelandic society,” says Sigrún Ólafsdóttir, Professor of Sociology at the University of Iceland.

She is referring to Iceland’s involvement in international surveys that explore public attitudes, values, life trajectories, political views, media, and democracy. Earlier this year, Sigrún and her collaborators were awarded nearly ISK 50 million to continue Iceland’s participation in these surveys and to build a robust data infrastructure offering long-term insights into the lived experiences of Icelanders in an international comparative framework.

According to Sigrún, the grant was awarded by the Infrastructure Fund administered by Rannís, and the project was selected for inclusion in the national Roadmap for Research Infrastructure—a designation common across many European countries. Projects on the roadmap are expected to meet high standards for supporting research quality and are encouraged to promote collaboration and shared use of infrastructure. While the initial grant is for ISK 50 million, it includes a commitment for continued funding over the next four years.

The Social Foundations: Research Infrastructure for a Stronger Society project is one of twelve selected for the roadmap this year.

“Social Foundations is a collaborative initiative between researchers and institutions to strengthen core infrastructure in social sciences. One of our key pillars is data; specifically, data that captures attitudes, behaviours, values, and lived experiences. While such data is vital for understanding Icelandic society, it becomes even more valuable when placed in a global context, especially when it spans long periods,” explains Sigrún.

A collaborative effort across academia and society

The idea for the project emerged from discussions among social scientists in Iceland about the importance of joining forces to build a foundational infrastructure, rather than working in isolation to secure funding and participation.

“This began with conversations between myself and Eva H. Önnudóttir, Professor of Political Science, who currently leads the Icelandic National Election Study (ÍSKOS). Later, Ásdís Arnalds, Assistant Professor in Social Work, who has helped coordinate Iceland’s participation in the European Social Survey (ESS), European Values Study (EVS), and International Social Survey Programme (ISSP), joined the conversation, along with Jón Gunnar Ólafsson, Assistant Professor of Political Science, who oversees the media component of ÍSKOS and has worked to ensure Iceland’s involvement in media-related surveys,” says Sigrún.

“Instead of submitting multiple grant applications for separate surveys, we decided to establish Social Foundations and work together to strengthen social science research in Iceland,” she adds.

The four researchers form the project's core leadership, in addition to representatives from all Shools within the University of Iceland, as well as the University of Akureyri, Reykjavík University, and various stakeholders who benefit from the development of social science infrastructure. These include Statistics Iceland, the Directorate of Health, the National Electoral Commission, the Union of Icelandic Journalists, and the Media Commission.

Building on a strong tradition of data collection

Iceland already benefits from several high-quality datasets in social sciences, thanks to the dedication of local researchers. For example, Sigrún’s father, Ólafur Þ. Harðarson, Professor of Political Science, founded the Icelandic National Election Study (ÍSKOS) in 1983. Stefán Ólafsson and Friðrik H. Jónsson initiated Iceland’s participation in the World Values Survey (WVS) in the 1980s, which later evolved into the European Values Study (EVS). “Together with Jón Gunnar Bernburg, I began Iceland’s participation in the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) in 2009,” Sigrún notes.

Expanding Iceland’s participation in global research

Through Social Foundations, Sigrún and her team aim to ensure Iceland’s continued involvement in these international studies, while also expanding participation to new areas. These include global research on life trajectories from birth to old age, and studies examining media freedom and journalism in an international context.

“At its core, the project strengthens social sciences in Iceland through interdisciplinary collaboration by: 1) mapping existing data and ensuring access; 2) building and maintaining core infrastructure; and 3) promoting collaboration and data sharing between academia, institutions, and policymakers,” says Sigrún.

According to the team’s plans, Iceland will participate in nine major international surveys across three thematic areas:

1. Attitudes and values: European Social Survey (ESS), European Values Study (EVS), and International Social Survey Programme (ISSP).
2. Life course research: Growing Up in Digital Europe (GUIDE), Gender and Generation Survey (GGS), and Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)—two of which Iceland has not yet joined.
3. Democracy, elections, and media: The Icelandic National Election Study (ÍSKOS), along with three journalism-focused surveys: Worlds of Journalism Study (WJS), Journalistic Role Performance Project (JRP), and Reuters Digital News Study (RDNS).

“These surveys paint a comprehensive picture of Icelandic society and allow us to place it in a broader international context,” says Sigrún.

Contributing to international survey design and data infrastructure

What does participation in large-scale international surveys actually entail? Professor Sigrún Ólafsdóttir, from the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences at the University of Iceland, uses the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) as an example.

“I’ve led Iceland’s participation in ISSP since 2009, initially with Jón Gunnar Bernburg, then Guðbjörg Andrea Jónsdóttir, and now Ásdís Arnalds. The survey is conducted annually, with a different thematic focus each year. For instance, in 2020 the focus was on environmental issues, in 2021 on health and healthcare systems, in 2022 on family and changing gender roles, in 2023 on national and civic identity, and in 2024 on digital societies,” explains Sigrún.

Each theme recurs every ten years, allowing researchers to compare Icelandic public opinion both internationally, across approximately 40 countries, and longitudinally, with data from a decade earlier. Sigrún and her colleagues also contributed to the design of the 2021 health and healthcare questionnaire.

“This work involves extensive international collaboration, as well as conducting the survey here in Iceland and preparing the data for inclusion in the global dataset. We’ve had excellent cooperation with the Social Science Research Institute at the University of Iceland, but the final responsibility always rests with us as researchers,” Sigrún emphasises.

She adds that the international surveys the team participates in are widely recognised for quality. “Being selected for the Roadmap for Research Infrastructure means we no longer need to apply for separate funding for each survey round. That’s a major shift for those of us who have long been committed to Iceland’s participation in global research.”

Open access data with broad impact

How are these datasets used? Sigrún explains that together, these surveys form a core part of social science infrastructure, capturing attitudes, values, experiences, and life trajectories in a comparative context. “They inform policymaking and have contributed to improving public wellbeing, for example, by identifying factors that promote social inclusion or better health outcomes.”

One of the most critical aspects of these datasets is that they are open access, meaning anyone can use the data for their research. This includes both Icelandic and international scholars. “Here in Iceland, researchers use these datasets in their studies and teaching, and they’re also widely used in student theses at all levels. But the data is equally valuable internationally. Given the small size of Iceland’s academic community, it’s imperative that researchers around the world publish findings based on these surveys, even when no Icelandic researcher is directly involved in the publication,” Sigrún explains.

She adds that policymakers also make use of the data in various ways. “For example, national governments and various EU institutions regularly use results from the European Social Survey (ESS) , which consider it one of Europe's most important scientific infrastructures. We want to strengthen this connection in Iceland and foster more active dialogue with policymakers. These surveys offer invaluable insights into the views and experiences of Icelanders and can help shape a society that truly reflects public aspirations. They also highlight which policy directions are most likely to succeed and why.”

As an example, Sigrún notes that her research has shown that health outcomes tend to be better in larger welfare states. “If the goal is to reduce health inequalities, especially between native-born Icelanders and immigrants, developing targeted policies is essential. Similarly, we have demonstrated that trust in political institutions is crucial for public willingness to respond to climate change fairly and equitably. People are more likely to support just transitions if they trust the government.”

Foundation for understanding Icelandic society

The inclusion of Social Foundations on the national roadmap underscores the project’s fundamental importance to Icelandic society and science.

“These surveys provide a unique window into the lives of Icelanders over time and in a global context. Without them, it would be much harder to understand the development of Icelandic society,” says Sigrún. “It has often been difficult to convince funders, whether within academia or research institutions, that social sciences have real infrastructure. Too often, infrastructure is assumed to mean large, tangible equipment. However, datasets containing survey responses, like those mentioned here, are recognised by the European Union as essential infrastructure in social sciences. Without them, we lose our ability to understand public life, attitudes, experiences, and the factors contributing to a better society.”