June 2, 2026
The Swiss Household Panel (SHP): an introduction to the study and data management using SPSS

SHP Team, FORS

This one-day workshop offers a comprehensive introduction to the SHP data. It presents the study’s structure, including prospective panel data and retrospective biographical information, as well as the questionnaires and related projects. Participants will learn how to use the data and will become familiar with the different available datasets (mainly the individual, household, and long file).

Through practical exercises in SPSS, participants will practice merging individual and household information, creating a longitudinal dataset with multiple waves, and constructing a partner file that enables analyses of mutual influences between partners. The workshop also provides participants with the opportunity to build data files tailored to their own SHP research projects, with guidance from the workshop leaders.

June 3-4, 2026
An introduction to fixed effects models using the SHP  

Ursina Kuhn, FORS
Oliver Lipps, FORS
Claire Mariano, SSP-UNIL

The methodological workshop provides a two-day introduction to fixed effects (FE) models, one of the most widely used approaches for analysing panel data. The course covers the theoretical foundations, as well as their practical implementation and interpretation.

The first day aims to provide an understanding of the “mechanics” of FE modelling, including estimation, interpretation and data requirements. We begin by discussing how panel data must be structured (long format) to estimate regression models. We then present pooled OLS models to highlight the difference between cross-sectional and longitudinal regressions. These models serve as a reference for comparing FE models and for discussing the assumptions required to obtain unbiased coefficients and draw causal inference. Building on this basis, we address the distinction of between and within variance, explain the concept of demeaning and show how Fixed effects, which only use within-variance, can help to approach causal inference. We present the main estimation approaches for fixed effects models.

On the second day, we address the use of fixed effect models to study interaction effects, the effects of events or transitions (aka time-distributed FE models or impact functions), control groups, tests of symmetry when changing between different states and applications using non-linear dependent variables. There will also be time to discuss different modelling strategies in relation to participants’ own research questions.

The course alternates between presentations by the instructors and hands-on exercises using prepared data from the Swiss Household Panel (SHP). Participants may also bring their own data, although the course primarily focuses on SHP data. Exercises and examples will be provided in Stata and R.

The workshops take place in person at FORS at the University of Lausanne, Geopolis building, room 5621 (5th floor).

Prerequisites

Previous knowledge
Participants in the introduction to the SHP should ideally have some knowledge of SPSS. Participants in the Fixed effects Workshop are required to have notions of linear regression analysis and knowledge of a statistical software such as Stata, SPSS, SAS, or R.

Data access
To access the SHP data, participants need to register on SWISSUbase and sign the SHP data user agreement. To access the data, please register on SWISSUbase at least 48 hours before the workshop starts.

Installation of Stata, or R and RStudio
The course assumes participants have either Stata, or R and RStudio installed on their devices. If you do not have Stata (version 18 or 19) yet, student short-term licenses are available at Stata licence. The license is valid only for 7 days, so do not install it too early.
Participants in the introduction to the SHP who do not have SPSS  installed on their computer can download a trial version here or contact us as soon as possible (swisspanel@fors.unil.ch).

Tuition fees

Participation in the introduction to the Swiss Household Panel (SHP) and data management using SPSS on June 2nd, 2026, is free of charge.
Participation in the Fixed Effects Workshop from June 3rd to June 4th, 2026, costs 150.- CHF.
Participants are free to register for both parts of the workshop or only one part.

Short biographies

Oliver Lipps is a survey methodologist at FORS and a lecturer at the University of Bern. His main research interests are nonresponse in cross-sectional surveys and attrition in panel surveys, panel data analysis, as well as causality in social science research.

Ursina Kuhn is a member of the SHP, where she is strongly involved in data preparation and leads and conducts research projects analysing SHP data. She has a PhD in political science, but has also published research articles in sociology, economics, psychology, and survey research.

Oliver Lipps and Ursina Kuhn have long experience in teaching panel data analysis in the Lugano Summer School in Social Science methods.

Claire Mariano is a PhD candidate in Social Sciences at the University of Lausanne. Drawing on the SHP and other longitudinal datasets, her doctoral work investigates the interrelations between parents’ and their children’s mental health and wellbeing over time. As an active member of the Developments in Research and Methods of the Social Sciences (DReMSS) unit at the University of Lausanne, she has a strong interest in longitudinal data analysis.