Interested individuals and organisations can help shape the next survey of Central Queenslanders' opinions and lifestyles.

CQU's Centre for Social Science Research is set to undertake the 5th annual Central Queensland Social Survey in October and is open to requests for additional survey questions.

The computer-assisted phone survey is conducted by CQU’s Population Research Laboratory.

Survey spokesperson Dr Kerry Mummery said it was important to monitor trends in areas such as health, lifestyles, gambling, tourism, education and internet use.

He said the survey, which included a searchable Rockhampton data set, provided tools for regional planning and resource allocation and was statistically accurate to within 3 per cent either way.

"We use a computer-assisted random selection. Individual results remain confidential and are fed into Rockhampton and regional data sets for computer analysis," Dr Mummery said.

He said this was the only population research survey of its type in Australia. The survey takes in areas north to Mackay, south to Bundaberg and west to the border. The Population Research Laboratory will host a CQSS Information Session from 3pm on Tuesday, September 9, in the Harvard Lecture Theatre (Bldg 32/G.16) at Central Queensland University, Rockhampton. Details are available via 4930 9272.

This omnibus style survey of Central Queensland households enables academic researchers, government departments, non profit organisations and the private sector to explore a wide range of research topics within a structured research framework.

The CQSS is a telephone survey of a random sample of CQ residents. This study is the first of its kind in the CQ Region. Run annually, it targets between 1200 - 1500 households, seeking respondents' attitudes towards issues such as health, quality of life, and changing work practices. Organisations may join this survey with their own questions. ENDS To arrange an interview with survey spokesperson Dr Kerry Mummery call 4930 6749 or email k.mummery@cqu.edu.au