Making the Most of Longitudinal Data

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Making the Most of Longitudinal Data
Chair Deborah Wilson (DCSF) SpeakersClare
Baker, Helen Wood, Michael Greer (DCSF) Rémi
Dewitte (Gide) Presentation at DCSF Conference
The Use of Evidence in Policy Development and
Delivery, 9 February 2010
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Longitudinal Studies in DCSF

• Longitudinal studies, and other data, are key
  resources for DCSF
• They help us to understand and address important
  policy questions. In particular to
• Understand individual life courses
• Understand the impact of policy changes
• Help to explain the causes of social inequality
• and underachievement

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Why review our use of studies?

• ONS Cross-Government review
• DCSF Data and Statistics Strategy
• Raise awareness within the Dept of existing data
  sources
• Identify current and potential use for existing
  studies and identify gaps
• Review our support for DCSF-funded longitudinal
  studies
• LSYPE, YCS, EPPSE
• ALSPAC, MCS, USoc, FACS
• Departmental policy and structural changes

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Workshop Overview

• Todays workshop will examine the one of the
  Departments biggest and most successful
  longitudinal studies - LSYPE
• This workshop will
• show how we involve policy colleagues in the
  LSYPE cycle
• provide an interactive demonstration of 'iLSYPE'
  

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Introducing the Longitudinal Study of Young
People in England (LSYPE)

• Large-scale cohort study tracking over 15,000
  young people and their parents
• Annual interviews from age 13/14 (Year 9)- cohort
  currently aged 19/20
• Over sampled FSM households ethnic minorities
  to ensure good representation
• Further EM boost from wave 4 (age 16/17)

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LSYPE

• Unique and invaluable dataset for policy making-
  used both proactively and reactively
• Initially funded by HM Treasury, intended as a
  cross-government project currently managed by
  DCSF
• Research aims
• factors affecting educational progress
• transitions following compulsory education,
• effects of background and behaviours,
• attitudes and experiences
• moves us towards causality
• Broad content- including data linking

Our unique selling point!
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Who takes part in LSYPE?
Wave 1 (13/14) 2004 Young people and both parents 15,500 responding households (74)
Wave 2 (14/15) 2005 Young people and both parents 13,500 responding households (86)
Wave 3 (15/16) 2006 Young people and both parents 12,500 responding households (92)
Wave 4 (16/17) 2007 Young people and one parent 11,500 responding households (92)
Wave 5 (17/18) 2008 Young people only 10,500 responding young people (89)
Wave 6 (18/19) 2009 Young people only 9,793 responding young people (87)

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Survey Content
Main Parent Second Parent Young Person
Employment Histories including income Relationship histories (household composition) Demographics (ethnicity, gender, religion, disability etc) Employment Histories including income Relationship histories (household composition) Demographics (ethnicity, gender, religion, disability etc) Educational experiences/attainment- including bullying and truancy Aspirations Out of school activities- both positive risky Health, disability SEN Caring responsibilities Relationship with parents Attitudes experiences re local community Relationships, sexuality etc.
Aspirations for the young person Attitudes to schooling and education Contact with services Family Cohesion Educational experiences/attainment- including bullying and truancy Aspirations Out of school activities- both positive risky Health, disability SEN Caring responsibilities Relationship with parents Attitudes experiences re local community Relationships, sexuality etc.

Non policy-specific questions facilitate the
long-term, strategic nature of the study but
presents challenges with policy engagement
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The LSYPE Cycle
2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010
J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J
W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC
W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC
W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC W8 handover to OGDs/ESRC
W7 starts consultation/Contract. W7 starts consultation/Contract. W7 questionnaire design, piloting and programming. W7 questionnaire design, piloting and programming. W7 questionnaire design, piloting and programming. W7 questionnaire design, piloting and programming. W7 questionnaire design, piloting and programming. W7 fieldwork W7 fieldwork W7 fieldwork
W7 starts consultation/Contract. W7 starts consultation/Contract. W7 questionnaire design, piloting and programming. W7 questionnaire design, piloting and programming. W7 questionnaire design, piloting and programming. W7 questionnaire design, piloting and programming. W7 questionnaire design, piloting and programming. W7 fieldwork W7 fieldwork W7 fieldwork
W7 starts consultation/Contract. W7 starts consultation/Contract. W7 questionnaire design, piloting and programming. W7 questionnaire design, piloting and programming. W7 questionnaire design, piloting and programming. W7 questionnaire design, piloting and programming. W7 questionnaire design, piloting and programming. W7 fieldwork W7 fieldwork W7 fieldwork
W6 Questionnaire finalised, piloting and programming. W6 Questionnaire finalised, piloting and programming. W6 Questionnaire finalised, piloting and programming. W6 Questionnaire finalised, piloting and programming. W6 Fieldwork. W6 Fieldwork. W6 Fieldwork. W6 Fieldwork. W6 Fieldwork. W6 data processing, checking and in-house creation of DVs. W6 data processing, checking and in-house creation of DVs. W6 data processing, checking and in-house creation of DVs. W6 data processing, checking and in-house creation of DVs. W6 production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2010). W6 production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2010). W6 production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2010). W6 production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2010). W6 production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2010).
W5 data checking and DVs. W5 data checking and DVs. W5 Production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2009). W5 Production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2009). W5 Production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2009). W5 Production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2009). W5 Production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2009). W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy. W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy. W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy. W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy. W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy. W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy. W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy.
W5 data checking and DVs. W5 data checking and DVs. W5 Production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2009). W5 Production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2009). W5 Production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2009). W5 Production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2009). W5 Production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2009). W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy. W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy. W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy. W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy. W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy. W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy. W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy.
W5 data checking and DVs. W5 data checking and DVs. W5 Production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2009). W5 Production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2009). W5 Production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2009). W5 Production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2009). W5 Production and publication of Statistical Bulletin (publication June 2009). W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy. W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy. W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy. W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy. W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy. W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy. W5 Data Enhancement, publicity and analysis for policy.
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Challenges

• Timeliness- longitudinal data takes time to
  produce
• Multiple stakeholders- and managing their
  expectations
• Maintaining a strategic focus
• Lack of engagement
• Limited resources

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Engaging with Policy

• Marketing of LSYPE- awareness raising events
  providing information
• Crucial, targeted consultation at the start of
  each wave- and throughout
• Providing tools to allow colleagues to explore
  the data first-hand (iLSYPE)
• Providing analysis

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How have LSYPE data been used?

• By DCSF
• Annual National Statistics publications
• http//www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SBU/b00
  0795/index.shtml
• http//www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SBU/b00
  0850/index.shtml
• Unpublished analyses

RPA/NEETs Well qualified NEETs Barriers to
re-engagement EMA eligibility/take-up Jobs
without training Positive activities
Behavioural problems Contact with Educational
Welfare, Social Services and the Police
Teenage Pregnancy Strategy Refreshment Characteri
stics of 17 year-old parents
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How have LSYPE data been used?

• LSYPE research framework agreement and research
  programme
• - Fast and responsive tender process for
  research
• - Framework contractors build expertise with
  LSYPE
• So Far

Published Disengagement from Education among 14-16 year olds Risky Behaviours social Activities Drivers and Barriers to Educational Success Examination Performance of Ethnic Minority pupils In the pipeline.. Bullying Community Cohesion Alcohol Use IAG Youth crime and anti-social behaviour
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Young People from Pakistani ethnic origin are
more positive than their peers about the fairness
of society

• Britain today is a place where people are
  usually treated fairly no matter what background
  they come from

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Raising the Participation Age will have an impact
on the volumes eligible for EMA
These young people will need to find appropriate
training
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Do young people who miss out on level 2 find it
significantly more difficult to find a job or
training place?
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The future of LSYPE

• Cohort aged 19/20, wave 7 interviews are being
  piloted
• Working closely with ESRC and OGDs for the
  possibility for ESRC to take over management of
  LSYPE after wave 7 (end 2010)- Subject to
  Cross-Government funding
• Development work for a second cohort (LSYPE2) -
  subject to Cross-Government funding

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Tips for engaging with policy

• Awareness raising and maintaining is crucial
• Big bang followed by a slow burn
• Provide lots of user-friendly information and
  identify sources of help
• Recognise that engagement requires resource- but
  it is worth investing in
• Keep your eye on the bigger picture
• Use analysis as a hook
• Make data easily accessible

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iLSYPE https//ilsype.gide.net
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Thank you for your time - any questions? Contact
us team.longitudinal_at_dcsf.gsi.gov.uk