Cross-Cultural Connections for Users of Existing Longitudinal Cohort Studies
Lead Research Organisation:
King's College London
Department Name: Psychology
Abstract
The UK has an unparalleled tradition of longitudinal birth cohort and panel studies that track generations of babies (and their families) from birth throughout the lifespan. The cohorts span over 70 years. The 1946 British Cohort Study and the 1958 National Child Development Study have been following the lives of over 20,000 people born in England, Scotland and Wales. These studies have been tracking study participants' height, weight, health, school performance, social class, deviance (e.g. bullying others, crime behaviours), and their later employment and relationship histories, health, life satisfaction and so on. Another study began in 1970; and then others in the 1990s and 2000s, including twin cohort studies, which can assess the relative importance of genetic and environmental influence on child development. Taken together, this research has made major contributions to UK health, education, economic and social policy, and to our understanding of individual development across the life course.
The recent ESRC Longitudinal Studies Strategic Review noted that advances in longitudinal studies in other countries - including Japan - are now opening up key opportunities for rigorous international comparative studies on a wide range of issues including comparisons of life-course trajectories to better understand how environmental circumstances and policy can affect development trajectories, health and other outcomes. The Review also, however, noted that there is currently a lack of the right mix of skills and mentoring in quantitative 'know-how' to make these sorts of comparative analyses possible. More specifically, The Review highlighted the need for data harmonization to enhance international comparative research and improve its methodological foundations.
This application aims to create sustainable international collaborations between UK and Japanese researchers to enable high-quality applications for future UKRI-JSPS bilateral research calls, as well as high quality peer-reviewed journal articles. We aim to bring together UK and Japanese researchers who are examining risk pathways to inform detection and prevention, fitting well with the ESRC's priority to understand social factors involved in mental health. To this end, we will utilise the pump-priming funds to (i) have a UK team deliver two workshops in Japan on data harmonisation and the estimation of developmental trajectories. We envisage that these workshops will act as a forum to begin a dialogue about wider harmonisation possibilities within existing cohort studies. (ii) The Japanese researchers will come to the UK to showcase existing projects and papers that arise from these workshops.
The recent ESRC Longitudinal Studies Strategic Review noted that advances in longitudinal studies in other countries - including Japan - are now opening up key opportunities for rigorous international comparative studies on a wide range of issues including comparisons of life-course trajectories to better understand how environmental circumstances and policy can affect development trajectories, health and other outcomes. The Review also, however, noted that there is currently a lack of the right mix of skills and mentoring in quantitative 'know-how' to make these sorts of comparative analyses possible. More specifically, The Review highlighted the need for data harmonization to enhance international comparative research and improve its methodological foundations.
This application aims to create sustainable international collaborations between UK and Japanese researchers to enable high-quality applications for future UKRI-JSPS bilateral research calls, as well as high quality peer-reviewed journal articles. We aim to bring together UK and Japanese researchers who are examining risk pathways to inform detection and prevention, fitting well with the ESRC's priority to understand social factors involved in mental health. To this end, we will utilise the pump-priming funds to (i) have a UK team deliver two workshops in Japan on data harmonisation and the estimation of developmental trajectories. We envisage that these workshops will act as a forum to begin a dialogue about wider harmonisation possibilities within existing cohort studies. (ii) The Japanese researchers will come to the UK to showcase existing projects and papers that arise from these workshops.
Planned Impact
IMPACT SUMMARY
The UK has an unparalleled tradition of longitudinal birth cohort and panel studies that track generations of babies (and their families) from birth throughout the lifespan. The 2017 ESRC Longitudinal Studies Strategic Review noted that advances in longitudinal studies in other countries - including Japan - are now opening up key opportunities for rigorous international comparative studies on a wide range of issues including comparisons of life-course trajectories to better understand how environmental circumstances and policy can affect development trajectories, health and other outcomes. The Review also, however, noted that there is currently a lack of the right mix of skills and mentoring in quantitative 'know-how' to make these sorts of comparative analyses possible. More specifically, the Review highlighted the need for data harmonization to enhance international comparative research and improve its methodological foundations.
This impact summary (and proposed project) focuses on the short-term gains that are needed to enable rigorous international comparative studies in the medium- and long-term. To this end, the overarching goal of the proposed programme of activity is two-fold. Firstly, to provide the mentoring and the quantitative 'know-how' for data harmonization to enable comparative analyses. Secondly, to provide the social milieu by which international these collaborations could be initiated.
Who will benefit from this activity? The key group we anticipate benefitting from this programme of activity is the UK and Japanese social science research community. Here we expect that early, mid- and late-career researchers will have the opportunity to increase their exposure and knowledge on the intricacies of cross-cultural data harmonization. This type of knowledge is essential for international comparative research.
How will they benefit from this activity? The researchers will benefit in two main ways. Firstly, for Japanese researchers, by gaining the mentoring and statistical knowledge needed to competently engage in data harmonization. Secondly, for Japanese and UK researchers, through the planned networking opportunities that will lead to on-going collaborations.
What will be done to ensure that they have the opportunity to benefit from this activity? Firstly, through the planned programme of activity: the workshops (in Japan) and the research showcase (in the UK). As stated in Pathways to Impact, the UK and Japanese Advisory Boards will be instrumental in ensuring the success of the overall programme of activity. In addition, the instructors on the workshops have previously delivered, with success, the materials and practical sessions proposed here (see Case for Support). Secondly, through providing language translation. One major obstacle for de novo interactions between UK and Japanese researchers is the language barrier. In the proposed workshops (in Japan) and the research showcase (in the UK) we will have early and midcareer researchers acting as translators. We will also translate all workshop and showcase material, such that it is provided in both Japanese and English.
The UK has an unparalleled tradition of longitudinal birth cohort and panel studies that track generations of babies (and their families) from birth throughout the lifespan. The 2017 ESRC Longitudinal Studies Strategic Review noted that advances in longitudinal studies in other countries - including Japan - are now opening up key opportunities for rigorous international comparative studies on a wide range of issues including comparisons of life-course trajectories to better understand how environmental circumstances and policy can affect development trajectories, health and other outcomes. The Review also, however, noted that there is currently a lack of the right mix of skills and mentoring in quantitative 'know-how' to make these sorts of comparative analyses possible. More specifically, the Review highlighted the need for data harmonization to enhance international comparative research and improve its methodological foundations.
This impact summary (and proposed project) focuses on the short-term gains that are needed to enable rigorous international comparative studies in the medium- and long-term. To this end, the overarching goal of the proposed programme of activity is two-fold. Firstly, to provide the mentoring and the quantitative 'know-how' for data harmonization to enable comparative analyses. Secondly, to provide the social milieu by which international these collaborations could be initiated.
Who will benefit from this activity? The key group we anticipate benefitting from this programme of activity is the UK and Japanese social science research community. Here we expect that early, mid- and late-career researchers will have the opportunity to increase their exposure and knowledge on the intricacies of cross-cultural data harmonization. This type of knowledge is essential for international comparative research.
How will they benefit from this activity? The researchers will benefit in two main ways. Firstly, for Japanese researchers, by gaining the mentoring and statistical knowledge needed to competently engage in data harmonization. Secondly, for Japanese and UK researchers, through the planned networking opportunities that will lead to on-going collaborations.
What will be done to ensure that they have the opportunity to benefit from this activity? Firstly, through the planned programme of activity: the workshops (in Japan) and the research showcase (in the UK). As stated in Pathways to Impact, the UK and Japanese Advisory Boards will be instrumental in ensuring the success of the overall programme of activity. In addition, the instructors on the workshops have previously delivered, with success, the materials and practical sessions proposed here (see Case for Support). Secondly, through providing language translation. One major obstacle for de novo interactions between UK and Japanese researchers is the language barrier. In the proposed workshops (in Japan) and the research showcase (in the UK) we will have early and midcareer researchers acting as translators. We will also translate all workshop and showcase material, such that it is provided in both Japanese and English.
Organisations
Publications
Neumann A
(2020)
Association between DNA methylation and ADHD symptoms from birth to school age: a prospective meta-analysis.
in Translational psychiatry
Description | We are making succesful connections between UK and Japanese researchers. These connections hopefully will be solidified into JSPS-ESRC grant applications in the future. We look forward to holding the final networking event in August 2020, COVID-19 allowing. |
Exploitation Route | We hope the main outcome will be UK and Japanese research collaborations that will manifest in publications and grant application. |
Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Education Environment Healthcare Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism |
URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/uk-japan-longitudinal-studies-networking-event-tickets-91255845691 |
Description | FIRST WORKSHOP hosted by Profs Amnie and Yato, 26 March 2019 - 29 March 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | This project aims to create sustainable international collaborations between UK and Japanese researchers to enable high-quality applications for future UKRI-JSPS bilateral research calls, as well as high quality peer-reviewed journal articles. We aim to bring together UK and Japanese researchers who are examining risk pathways to inform detection and prevention, fitting well with the ESRC's priority to understand social factors involved in mental health. To this end, we will utilise the pump-priming funds to (i) have a UK team deliver two workshops in Japan on data harmonisation and the estimation of developmental trajectories. We envisage that these workshops will act as a forum to begin a dialogue about wider harmonisation possibilities within existing cohort studies. (ii) The Japanese researchers will come to the UK to showcase existing projects and papers that arise from these workshops. We have successfully held the first workshop at the University of Keio, Tokyo FIRST WORKSHOP: Hosted at the University of Keio, Tokyo, by Prof Anme and Prof Ando. Dates: 26 March 2019 - 29 March 2019 Instructors: Dr Barker & Dr Koukounari Assistants: Drs Zhang, Tomisaki, Takahashi & Tanaka UK Advisory board members in attendance: Unfortunately, no original members could make this workshop for a variety of personal reasons. Dr Lisa Calderwood substituted for Prof Alison Park, as she became ESRC Director of Research and could no longer attend the workshop. Dr Calderwood participated in the workshop by giving talks about CLOSER and potential collaborative opportunities in the UK. Japanese Attendees: 30 individuals involved in academic research attended the workshop. These individuals spanned PhD students to Professors. The workshop was highly rated. Here is an example of the feedback: One attendee commented: "It was a great opportunity to learn about CLOSER and the analysis methods of longitudinal data. The course included from the basic to advanced analyses, thus I was able to understand the meaning of R command line by line." Another attendee stated, "I had little knowledge about multivariate analysis and never had used R before, but owing to this seminar, my knowledge and interest toward them has increased. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | SECOND WORKSHOP: University of Kyoto. Hosted by Profs Yato and Kusumi. Dates: 25 November 2019 - 28 November 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | SECOND WORKSHOP: University of Kyoto. To be hosted by Profs Yato and Kusumi. Dates: 25 November 2019 - 28 November 2019 Instructors: Drs Barker, Koukounari and Prof Rijsdijk Assistants: Drs Zhang, Tomisaki, Takahashi & Tanaka UK Advisory board members confirmed for attendance: Profs Hardy*, Richards, Arseneault and Ploubidis. Assistants: Drs Zhang, Tomisaki, Takahashi & Tanaka Attendees: 35 In the second workshop, there were 35 attendees. The workshop came off a bit better the second time around, as we were able to streamline certain content. Again, the worshop was highly rated by the participants, although the exact feedback has yet to be sent over from Japan. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | THIRD part of the networking grant: Japanese visit to London (IoPPN) for formal networking event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Overall goal: Foster sustainable international collaborations between Japanese and UK researchers who are utilising existing social science cohort studies to examine risk pathways in order to inform detection and prevention, fitting well with the ESRC's priority to understand social factors involved in mental health. To this end, we aim to: 1. Have a UK team visit Japan to facilitate the potential for collaborative links 2. Have a Japanese team visit the UK to make these collaborative links 3. Create international collaborations to enable high-quality applications for future UKRI-JSPS bilateral research calls, as well as high quality peer-reviewed journal articles Design of programme of activity: a. Two UK visits to Japan, each will consist of a 5-day data harmonisation and longitudinal modelling workshop and a visit between the UK advisory board and the Japanese advisory board. Aim: (i) facilitate methods training in Japanese researchers based on existing cohort data and (ii) to create links between Japanese and UK researchers b. Japanese visit UK to present research from workshops and engage in planned networking activities. Aim: (i) link Japanese researchers with UK researchers by topics of mutual interest, and (ii) create sustainable international collaborations We have planned the Japanese visit to the UK with 15 Japanese researchers and (to date) 31 UK researchers registered to attend. The dates were 27-March and 30-March. The Planned timeline is pasted below. Due to COVID-19, however, we have re-arranged our dates for 24 & 25 of August. We have been in touch with Sean Nolan of UKRI ESRC who has advised us to request a 6mos no-cost extension. We will submit a formal request via Je-S, as instructed. Day 1 Friday 27-March 9:00-10:00 Keynote: Louise Arsenaeult / Rebecca Hardy 10:00 - 11:00 Japanese& UK Researchers / 5 minute talks: introduce yourself! 11:00 - 11:30 Coffee / Tea 11:30 - 12:30 Japanese& UK Researchers / 5 minute talks: introduce yourself! 12:30 - 13:30 Lunch 13:30 - 14:30 Speed dating: England and Japan - meet eachother ! 14:30 - 15:30 Unconference questions: Cohort design/maintenance1; Genetics/biology2; Novel forms of translation/dissemination3; harmonisation4 15:30 - 16:00 Coffee / Tea 16:00 - 17:00 Hackathon: Come up with a research question / design to be tested with actual data (see Day 2) 17:00 - 18:30 Wine / Cheese (provided) 1 = led by Arseanuealt / Hardy; 2 = Led by Ritchie; 3 = lead by Barker/Quinlan; 4 = led by Ploubidis Day 2 Monday 30-March 10:00 - 11:00 Keynote: Tokie Amne / Juko Ando 11:00 - 11:30 Coffee / Tea 11:30 - 12:30 Hackathon in action: Part 1 - data analyses 12:30 - 13:30 Lunch (provided) 13:30 - 14:30 Hackathon in action: Part 2 - presenting the results 14:30 - 15:30 Speed dating: England and Japan - say goodbye ! 15:30 - 15:40 End of meeting ceremony: The Tokie Amne Method 15:40 - 16:10 Coffee / Tea |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/uk-japan-longitudinal-studies-networking-event-tickets-91255845691 |