ADRC-S Legacy Projects from phase 1 (2013-18)

Administrative data (that is information collected primarily for administrative purposes) has long contributed to central government statistics. During the last 15-20 years, technological advances in data science have allowed very large databases to be held by central and local government and by specialist agencies across the UK. This resource, coupled with the enormous computational power now available, and a robust data protection framework, opens up the possibility of developing a core resource for social science research. Linking such administrative data sets (in an anonymous form, and analysed in a secure environment) provides new insights into a diverse set of issues, e.g., the impact of homelessness on health, the type of care given to children looked after by the state, the impact of poverty on child development. The ambition of administrative data research is to help government and others make better-informed decisions based on a robust understanding of the issues.

The set of projects to be supported were initiated in the first phase of funding (ADRN) that established a UK-wide network of data centres. These projects were not able to be completed within the time-frame, in part because of the pioneering nature of the work and the (understandable) length of time taken to agree data sharing agreements with data controllers. For example, some of the projects that will be supported utilise Census data, where the principles of data sharing (in Scotland) have only just been agreed. Other projects have been in negotiation with Whitehall over many years (e.g. DWP) and data will now be delivered in the wake of the DEA.

ESRC recognised the value of this area of research, but also the need to work more closely in collaboration with government partners, with the ambition of creating research-ready data holdings and a unified process of governance and permissions. Hence the award of the second phase of funding, and the realisation that the work done in the first phase (e.g. negotiating access to data, obtaining research-specific permissions) should if at all possible be continued to supported.

There will be three core beneficiaries:

a) Data Controllers
Some of the data controllers who have agreed to share data for the purposes of linkage, are doing so for the first time (e.g. Census and DWP). The benefit to them comes through the (joint) developments of systems and procedures that allow them to share data safely. The relationships of trust and confidence built will also encourage them to take part in the second phase of funding where we are looking to move the data request to a more routine regular single ingest of data - which will save the departments time and resource.

Engagement with the projects will encourage improvements in data management, metadata etc. as the data controllers will work with data architects and data scientists which might lead to new insights into their own data structure. The linking of data may also allow the data controllers to access new analyses that they could not have done themselves.

b) Policy impact
The majority of the projects approved under the ADRN regime were required to address particular policy imperatives (and this would have been re-emphasised during the permissions processes to access data where public benefit is paramount). The researchers involved have since committed to:

- work with the Centre team to produce a refreshed description of their project, describing how it aligns to the Scottish National Outcomes, and to provide regular updates on the status of work and details of impact and engagement activities undertaken;
- create 'key findings/data insights' report(s) once preliminary analysis of your data is complete, and to work with the Centre team on planning impact; and
- participate in the wider SIP teams created in the second phase of funding, attending discussions and meetings (including with policy-makers).

c) The public
The Centre will continue with its Public Engagement and Communication work (in collaboration with ADR UK and our Scottish Government Colleagues) in order to ensure that the public is aware of - and accepting of - the research undertaken and the utilisation of administrative data. We will also, with our partners, champion the use of evidence-based research in helping inform good decision making.