The preparations for the 1999 study started during the nineties. Building on the knowledge of the two previous waves, a new questionnaire was designed, taking into account various new issues which have emerged in several life spheres. For that purpose four substantive research groups were established covering the broad domains of life and main themes in the questionnaire: religion and morality, politics, work and leisure, primary relations.
The tasks of the four substantive research groups were to develop theories, concepts and suggestions for concrete items to be included in the questionnaire of 1999. Each research or working group consists of experts on the domain at issue. The coordinators or leaders decided upon group membership and (eventually) invited others to join the research group. Apart from these substantive groups, a methodology group was established. The task of this group was to reach consensus on the themes and items in the questionnaire, identify problems of comparability, plan the survey, make recommendations on socio-demographic background variables, take care of the quality of the data etc.
The composition of the board of the Foundation changed in the nineties and the secretariat moved from Amsterdam to WORC at Tilburg University (the secretary is Loek Halman). During the preparatory and executive stages of the project, the Foundation's board members were: Pieter Drenth - chair (Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam), Roger Dillemans (University of Leuven), Chris Geppaart (Tilburg University) and Jan Kerkhofs (University of Leuven).
For an overview of the 1999/2000 data and all related documentation, click here.