The (early months of the) Early Years Longitudinal Survey

Simon Anderson

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Overview

• Background to the survey

• The scoping and consultation process

• Key design considerations

• Timetable for coming months

Background

• SEED Research Committee identified need to look at future data needs

• Fed into Executive-wide scoping exercise to identify the requirement for longitudinal data.

• Two significant information gaps identified in the area of children/young people:– Early Years– Youth transitions

• Looked at potential for addressing these through a longitudinal survey

Main aims

• Provide resource for monitoring and evaluating effectiveness of early years/children's services policies

• Contribute to the development of the early years/children's services evidence base for the Executive and the wider research community

Requirements

• Face-to-face survey of parents• Intensive focus on EY group, but opportunities

for follow-up through childhood and adolescence• Core plus modular structure• Cross-sectional and longitudinal function• National representation, but also capable of

analysis by urban/rural, deprived/non-deprived etc.

• Systematic approach to target groups of key policy interest

Research team and contract

• Two-part contract– Initial scoping study– First two years fieldwork

• Multi-level team– NatCen in collaboration with CRFR (Core

Project Team)– Project Affiliates– Wider consultation/involvement

The scoping study

• Main objectives– Matching methods and content to policy need– Embedding the study in wider networks

• Main elements– Interviews with key stakeholders– Consultation events: Glasgow, Edinburgh,

Aberdeen– Methodological review

Existing questions sets

• Child development• Child physical and mental health• Diet and physical activity• Sleeping patterns• Parenting behaviours• Parents’ well-being• Sources of support• Couple relationships

Other studies being looked at

• Millennium Cohort Study• Birth Cohort series• EPPE study• Avon Longitudinal Survey• Families and Children Survey• Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions• West of Scotland, 11-16 study• Parents’ demand for access to childcare survey

Hard choices

• No single ‘correct’ design – different configurations offer range of pros and cons

• Key areas of choice include– Cost versus sample size– Cross-sectional versus longitudinal data– Short-term versus long-term interests– Breadth versus depth in subject coverage– Core sample versus key target groups

Sample design considerations

• Three main types of data– Cross-sectional time-specific

– Cross-sectional time series

– Longitudinal

Age at interview

Year 0-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5

2004 BC1 YC1-2 YC2-3 YC3-4 YC4

2005 BC2 BC1 YC1-2 YC2-3 YC3-4

2006 BC3 BC2 BC1 YC1-2 YC2-3

2007 BC4 BC3 BC2 BC1 YC1-2

2008 BC5 BC4 BC3 BC2 BC1

2009 BC6 BC5 BC4 BC3 BC2

2010 BC6 BC5 BC4 BC3

Age at interview

Year 0-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5

2004 BC1 YC2-3

2005 BC1 YC2-3

2006 BC1 YC2-3

2007 BC2 BC1

2008 BC2 BC1

2009 BC2

2010 BC3 BC2

Key target groups

• Children in single parent families

• Children living in poverty

• Children in rural communities

• Children in Minority Ethnic households

• Children with SENs

• Children with disabilities

• Looked After Children

Other key issues

• Sampling frame: CB records or CHI?

• Value/feasibility of data linkage

• Relationship to other surveys (e.g. MCS)

• Arrangements for sample maintenance

• Arrangements for dissemination and utilisation

• Predicting the future: trends in data protection, data collection and data linkage

Where now?

• Consultation events in early March

• Report and recommendations to the Scottish Executive at end March

• Sampling and questionnaire development – March-September

• Fieldwork starts – Autumn 2004

Consultation events

• Aberdeen 12th March

• Edinburgh 12th March

• Glasgow 11th March

Details at www.crfr.ac.uk

www.scotcen.org.uk