Innovation and development in longitudinal studies: outputs from the 'UK Population Lab' programme

In 2018 the independent, international Longitudinal Studies Strategic Review (LS Review) made a number of recommendations to ESRC about the future development of existing and new longitudinal studies with a social science focus in the UK.

From October 2018, the ESRC’s ‘UK Population Lab’ programme funded under the UKRI Strategic Priorities Fund commissioned scoping projects following up the LS Review’s recommendations. These included scoping studies, evidence summaries and think pieces. ESRC is pleased to share outputs from these projects below. We will update this page as further reports become available.

Centre for Longitudinal Studies, UCL

MCS and Next Steps pregnancies and babies

• Emla Fitzsimons and Marc H. Bornstein - Studying the next generations: the case for following the offspring of MCS and Next Steps, and for studies of grandparenting

New birth cohort study theoretical sampling design

• Alice Sullivan, Heather Joshi and James Williams - New Birth Cohort Study: Theoretical Sampling Design Options

Qualitative research with cohort members

• Lisa Calderwood, Matt Brown and Kate Smith - CLS Cohorts Qualitative Research

Novel linkages literature and scoping review

• Nicolás Libuy and David Church - Geographical linkages
• Karen Dennison - Embedding CLS cohorts into national linked admin datasets
• Danielle Gomes - Novel health record linkages
• Karen Dennison - Review of consent for record linkages

Survey methods research: mode and incentives

• Lisa Calderwood, Matt Brown, Alissa Goodman, Emla Fitzsimons, Darina Peycheva, George B. Ploubidis, Joseph W. Sakshaug, Richard J. Silverwood, Joel Williams and Erica Wong - Executive Summary: Survey methods research on mode and incentives
• Lisa Calderwood, Alissa Goodman, George B. Ploubidis, Joseph W. Sakshaug, Richard J. Silverwood - An Investigation of Item Non-Response and Measurement Equivalence in a Mixed-Mode Cohort Study: Findings from the Next Steps Age 25 Sweep
• Emily Gilbert, Lisa Calderwood and Emla Fitzsimons - Does mode matter? The impact of using a mixed mode time use diary on data quality and measurement in the Age 14 Survey of the Millennium Cohort Study
• Darina Peycheva, Lisa Calderwood, and Erica Wong - Effects of a time-limited push-to-web incentive in a mixed-mode longitudinal study of young adults
• Erica Ryu Wong - Incentives in Longitudinal Studies scoping review
• Matt Brown and Lisa Calderwood - Mixing modes in longitudinal surveys: an overview
• Matt Brown, Lisa Calderwood, Alissa Goodman, George B. Ploubidis, Joseph W. Sakshaug, Richard J. Silverwood, Joel Williams - The impact of using the web in a mixed mode follow-up of a longitudinal birth cohort study: evidence from the National Child Development Study

Survey methods research: new technologies

• Lisa Calderwood, Emily Gilbert, Emla Fitzsimons, David Bann, Praveetha Patalay, and Alice Sullivan - Executive Summary: Survey methods research on new technologies
• Charis Bridger Staatz and David Bann - Diet – Opportunities for Data Collection
• Alex Vasilichi - Measuring Cognition in Population-Based Cohort Studies
• Aaron Kandola & David Bann - Measuring physical activity and cardiovascular health in population-based cohort studies
• Emily Gilbert - New technologies and innovative methods in data collection scoping review
• Jessica Rees and Praveetha Patalay - Opportunities for data collection and linkage: mental health
• Alex Papadopoulos - Quantifying the Digitisation of Everyday Lives: measurement opportunities for largescale surveys
• Madalina Hanc - Using social media in social research: Opportunities for enhancing largescale surveys

Calibration of mental health and cognitive ability measures

• Emily Gilbert, George Ploubidis - Calibration of mental health and cognitive ability measures

Web survey in MCS and design of annual web-mailing

• Lisa Calderwood, Matt Brown, Emla Fitzsimons, Emily Gilbert, and Darina Peycheva - Web survey in MCS and design of annual web-mailing (executive summary)
• Darina Peycheva, Emily Gilbert, Matt Brown, Lisa Calderwood - Exploring the feasibility of using Qualtrics to conduct online surveys in the CLS cohort studies
• Emily Gilbert and Emla Fitzsimons - Initial Design of the Millennium Cohort Study annual web survey 2019
• Emily Gilbert and Emla Fitzsimons - Millennium Cohort Study Age 17 web-boost survey

CLOSER

• Jane Maddock, Dara O’Neill, Meghan Rainsberry, and Rebecca Hardy - A review of quantitative analytical training needs for users of longitudinal studies

Ipsos MORI

• Patten Smith and Faith Jones – New technologies in survey research

NatCen Social Research

• Joanna D’Ardenne, Martin Wood, and Bruno Pacchiotti – Considering alternative fieldwork designs for a biennial face-to-face longitudinal survey
• Gerry Nicolaas, Emma Corteen, and Byron Davies – The use of incentives to recruit and retain hard-to-get populations in longitudinal studies
• Curtis Jessop, Dave Hussey, Klaudia Lubian, and Martin Wood – Using a targeted design and R-indicators to enhance sample quality in a web-CATI longitudinal study

Scotcen

• Rebecca Goldman, Paul Bradshaw, Adrienne Burgess, and Konstanina Vosnaki - Recruitment and retention of birth fathers in split-off households: methodological considerations for cohort and longitudinal studies

Understanding Society, University of Essex

Further working papers are expected to be made available on the Understanding Society website.

• Tarek Al Baghal - Methodological Briefing: Linking Survey and Social Media Data
• Michaela Benzeval, Jonathan Burton, Christopher Bollinger, and Tom Crossley - Methodological Briefing: The Representativeness of Understanding Society
• Jonathan Burton and Annette Jackle - Methodological Briefing: Mode effects
• Laura Fumagalli - Methodological Briefing: Understanding the role of Temporary Sample Members for Understanding Society
• Peter Lynn - Methodological Briefing: Methods for Recruitment and Retention
• Michaela Benzeval et al - Methodological Briefing: Integrated Data: Research Potential and Data Quality
• Magda Borkowska - Methodological Briefing: Improving population and subgroup coverage: who is missing and what can be done about it?
• Tina Haux and Renee Luthra - Methodological Briefing: What is shared care?
• Anna Horsley et al - Working Paper: The acceptability and feasibility of asking monthly “life-event” questions in between waves of a panel study
• Annette Jäckle, Jonathan Burton and Mick P. Couper - Methodological Briefing: Event-triggered Data Collection

University of Cardiff

• Matthew Williams - Acceptability to participants of novel data linkages, ethical issues, and the practicalities of obtaining consent

University of Manchester

• Natalie Shlomo, Chris Skinner and Myong Sook Kim - Theoretical Sampling Design Options for a New Birth Cohort: An Accelerated Longitudinal Design Perspective

University of Southampton

• Paul A Smith - Common Themes in Design and Analysis of Longitudinal Surveys
• Paul A Smith, Ann Berrington and Peter W.F Smith – Administrative vs Survey Data for Longitudinal Analyses
• Li-Chun Zhang and James Dawber – Report on Methods for Complex Linked Data
• Paul A Smith, James Dawber and Peter Van Der Heijden - Theoretical sampling designs for a UK birth cohort with potential accelerated design
• Paul A Smith and James Dawber -  Random probability vs quota sampling
• Peter Lugtig and Paul A Smith - The choice between a panel and cohort study design
• Paul A Smith - Booster samples of marginal groups vs separate focussed studies

Exploring Population Data for Inclusive Research

• Exploring Population Data for Inclusive Research (PDF, 140Kb)

Engaging the public with longitudinal studies

• Literature review - public support for accessing and linking data (PDF, 594Kb)
• Promoting public engagement with longitudinal research (PDF, 352Kb)