Introduction and overview

Presenter: Nicky Rogers, Office for National Statistics

Author: Nicky Rogers

This symposium will demonstrate to researchers the research potential of the three UK based longitudinal studies that cover England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Each longitudinal study holds linked data from censuses and life event data for study members. The Scottish and Northern Ireland Longitudinal Studies hold linked 1991-2011 Census data, whereas the England and Wales Longitudinal Study holds linked data from five successive censuses (1971-2011). The Scottish and Northern Ireland longitudinal studies also link to health and education data, and health and property data respectively. Each longitudinal study is a unique and rich resource offering the potential to look at a wide range of important social and epidemiological issues. These include ageing, care-giving, employment, labour market outcomes, cohabitation, fertility, migration, ethnicity, household change, inter-generational change, social mobility, health, health inequalities and mortality. This symposium will present four papers followed by a Q&A session. The first paper will give an overview of the three longitudinal studies; focusing on data held, research potential, use in evidence and also how to access these data. The following papers will present results from three individual research projects covering fertility, health and education of immigrants and the role of English language skills in England and Wales, NEETS (not in employment, education or training) in Scotland and religious and national identities in Northern Ireland.