The European Social Survey (the ESS) is examines the interaction between Europe's changing institutions and the attitudes, beliefs and behaviour patterns of its diverse populations. Now in its seventh round, the survey covers over 30 nations. The ESS questionnaire includes two main sections, each consisting of approximately 120 questions or topics; a 'core' module which will remain relatively constant from round to round, plus two or more 'rotating' modules, repeated at intervals. The core module aims to monitor change and continuity in a wide range of social variables, including media use, social and public trust; political interest and participation; socio-political orientations, governance and efficacy; moral, political and social values; social exclusion, national, ethnic and religious allegiances; well-being, health and security; demographics and socio-economics.

The ESS describes itself as a "methodologically bullet-proof study of changing social attitudes and values", and through its sampling procedures and translation protocols goes to great lengths to ensure that the data is comparable between countries.