Since its inception in 2005 the Growing Up in Scotland study (GUS) has tracked the lives of more than 10,000 children and families living in Scotland. Currently, GUS follows two cohorts of children: c.3,500 children born in 2004/05 and c.6,000 children born in 2010/11.

For the first six years face-to-face fieldwork was undertaken on an annual basis. However, subsequent sweeps of face-to-face fieldwork were conducted less frequently. This change prompted considerations about potential cost effective means of collecting data and keeping in touch with respondents between sweeps of face-to-face fieldwork.

At the time, other longitudinal studies in the UK were experimenting with the use of telephone and web surveys. Inspired by this, it was decided to undertake Web-CATI surveys with GUS respondents during years where no face-to-face fieldwork would be taking place. To date, a Web-CATI survey has been undertaken with both GUS cohorts and both cohorts have also subsequently taken part in face-to-face interviews.

The use of Web-CATI surveys in the context of a long-running longitudinal study is by no means a tried and tested approach. This presentation will explore how the use of Web-CATI has worked in the context of GUS. Specifically, it will examine:
- How Web-CATI response and characteristics of non-response compares with face-to-face
- To what extent Web-CATI participation appears to be associated with response at subsequent face-to-face fieldwork.

Finally, drawing on experiences from GUS, the presentation will consider the usefulness of Web-CATI surveys in the context of longitudinal cohort studies, both as a means of data collection in its own right and as a way of keeping in touch with respondents between face-to-face interviews.

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Growing Up in Scotland is a longitudinal birth cohort study funded by the Scottish Government and undertaken by ScotCen Social Research. Study website: www.growingupinscotland.org.uk