Pulse surveys: what are people really thinking?

Opinions change. Habits shift. And sometimes, the best way to understand what is happening is simply to ask.

Our pulse surveys give members of the Angelfish community a chance to tell us what they really think about the topics shaping everyday life. From shopping and wellbeing to ageing, AI and social media, we share the opinions, experiences and occasional surprises that come back.

Take a look at what we’ve been asking and what our community had to say.

The UK social media ban: what do families and teachers think?

We are following how attitudes towards the proposed UK under-16 social media ban change over time.

Our longitudinal pulse survey brings together views from parents, teachers and SENCOs, children aged 10–15 and older teenagers. Explore the findings and follow the project as the conversation develops.

Children, young people and social media

How do children, parents, teachers and teenagers feel about the issues affecting young people?

Following the social media ban?

Visit the Social Media Ban pulse hub

Back to school: what we learned from parents

Find out how parents felt about the return to school and the experiences shaping family life.

Read the findings

Life after 60

People over 60 are often treated as one broad audience. Our findings show a much more varied picture.

Explore what members of our community told us about technology, spending, family life, representation and what it really feels like to grow older in the UK.

Over-60s market research: insights from our pulse survey

From online shopping and family support to disposable income and life after 60, the findings paint a much livelier picture of this often-overlooked audience.

Explore the findings

Over-60s insights: challenging ageism in research and media

Meet some of the people behind the findings and explore why it is time to rethink outdated assumptions about ageing.

Read the personal stories

Health and wellbeing

What shapes the way people think about their health, wellbeing and everyday choices?

Explore changing attitudes towards wellness, healthy habits, menopause, GLP-1 use and the way people make decisions about their health.

How is GLP-1 use changing everyday choices?

Discover what GLP-1 users told us about food, spending, shopping habits and what they feel is missing from the market.

Explore the GLP-1 findings

What wellness really looks like for Gen Z and Millennials

Explore what Gen Z and Millennial consumers told us about healthy habits, wellbeing and the pressures shaping their choices.

Read the findings

Beyond the trends: what Gen Z and Millennials really think about wellness

Take a closer look at the experiences and attitudes behind the initial survey findings.

Explore the deeper insights

January health goals

New year, new habits? See which health goals people set, what keeps them motivated and where good intentions tend to wobble.

Read the findings

Menopause awareness

Explore what women aged 40–60 told us about menopause awareness, support and their experiences.

Explore the menopause insights

Shopping, retail and everyday spending

Consumer behaviour can change quickly, especially when budgets tighten, new technology arrives or priorities shift.

What are people buying, what shapes their decisions and do their actions always match their stated priorities?

Retail trends

From data privacy to changing expectations at the checkout, see what mattered to shoppers and what brands needed to know.

Explore the retail findings

Summer holiday trends

Find out where UK travellers planned to go, what they expected to spend and what influenced their decisions.

Explore the holiday findings

GLP-1 shopping and spending

See how GLP-1 use is affecting food choices, household spending and demand for new products.

Explore the GLP-1 findings

Charities and social impact

What encourages people to donate, take part and build a lasting connection with a cause?

Our charity pulse survey explores what supporters value, the barriers that can prevent participation and why flexibility, relevance and transparency matter.

How people want to engage with charities

Explore what people told us about workplace charity activity, fundraising challenges, monthly donations and the importance of seeing where their money goes.

Explore the charity findings

Technology and AI

AI is changing how people search, work, create and make decisions. But how do consumers actually feel about it?

Explore how members of our community are using AI, where they believe it can help and what still makes them cautious.

AI: what we learned from the Angelfish community

See where AI is creeping into everyday life, what people use it for and where they still draw the line.

Explore the AI findings

How we use pulse surveys at Angelfish Fieldwork

We use pulse surveys to ask members of our opt-in Angelfish community what they think about a particular trend, idea or issue.

They give us quick, direct feedback on topics that matter and can be a useful starting point before qualitative research. We share the results because they often uncover something unexpected: a gap between what people say and do, a striking difference between groups, or a niggling question worth exploring properly.

They are not the final word on a subject. More often, they are where an interesting conversation begins.

Has something here got you thinking?

Perhaps one of the findings sounds familiar. Or perhaps it has raised a completely different question about your brand, category or audience.

Angelfish Fieldwork helps researchers connect with the right people for qualitative market research. We can help you assess feasibility, refine your audience criteria and shape a recruitment approach that works in the real world.

Frequently asked questions

What is a pulse survey?

A pulse survey is a short, focused way to ask a specific group of people what they think about a particular trend, idea or issue. It provides quick feedback and can bring interesting differences, unexpected opinions or unanswered questions to the surface.

How can pulse surveys be used in market research?

A pulse survey can provide an early steer before qualitative research begins. The findings can help researchers see where opinions differ, question an assumption or identify areas worth exploring in more depth.

They can also bring a timely piece of evidence into a pitch, research brief or stakeholder conversation, particularly when a team needs to show why a topic or audience deserves closer attention.

What is a longitudinal pulse survey?

A longitudinal pulse survey returns to the same subject at different points in time. It can show what has shifted, what has stayed much the same and whether people respond differently as a conversation, policy or wider situation develops.

How long is a pulse survey?

Pulse surveys are typically short and focused, concentrating on a particular topic, trend or question. Keeping them concise makes it easier to gather timely feedback without asking participants to complete a lengthy questionnaire.

At Angelfish Fieldwork, we do anywhere from 2-3 questions to up to 12-15.

Who takes part in Angelfish Fieldwork pulse surveys?

Our pulse surveys draw on members of the opt-in Angelfish community. Depending on the topic, we may hear from groups such as parents, young people, older adults, Gen Z and Millennials, or people with specific experiences relevant to the research.

Are pulse surveys representative of the UK population?

Not necessarily. Pulse surveys are useful for exploring opinions, experiences and emerging themes, but they should not automatically be treated as nationally representative research.

At Angelfish Fieldwork, we use them to provide a snapshot of what particular members of our community think and to identify questions or themes that could be explored further.

What is the difference between a pulse survey and a traditional survey?

A pulse survey is usually shorter and more focused than a traditional survey. Rather than exploring a subject through a large number of questions, it concentrates on a particular issue or moment in time.

This makes pulse surveys useful when researchers want a quick indication of attitudes, behaviours or changing opinions.

Can a pulse survey help shape qualitative market research?

Yes. A pulse survey can highlight themes, differences between audiences and unexpected responses that researchers may want to investigate in more depth.

These findings can help inform discussion guides, refine audience criteria or identify useful areas of questioning before interviews, focus groups or other qualitative research begins.

What topics can a pulse survey explore?

Pulse surveys can explore a wide range of topics, from shopping habits and wellbeing to technology, social media and changing consumer attitudes. They are especially useful when a new trend or issue is emerging and researchers want a quick sense of how people are responding.

Can pulse surveys be repeated over time?

Yes. Pulse surveys can be run as a one-off study or repeated at different points to track changes in attitudes and behaviours. This can be particularly useful when following an evolving trend, policy or social issue.