Research Development Workshop: Better Data; Better Research; Better Policy

In person event.

Date: Tuesday 21 May 24

Registration: Register here

Background

ADR UK is transforming the way researchers access the UK’s wealth of public sector data. By joining up the abundance of administrative data already being created by government and public bodies across the UK, and making it available to approved researchers in a safe and secure way, they are enabling vital research. These datasets are already supporting the production of world leading academic studies, while leading to better informed policy decisions and more effective public services in areas from improving education and healthcare to tackling crime.

ADR UK flagship datasets are of significant research value and will have wide appeal to researchers and policy makers and analysts. ADR UK have funded and made available a number of new large-scale dataset which are currently underutilised in research. The datasets cover the following themes: 

• Children & Young People 
• Climate & Sustainability 
• Crime & Justice 
• Health & Wellbeing 
• Housing & Communities 
• Inequality & Social Inclusion 
• World of Work

Several of the ADR UK funded ‘World of Work’ datasets have been created in Bristol by UWE’s Wage and Employment Dynamics team – see www.wagedynamics.com. As such, the UWE research team will be at hand to talk about their experience and provide tailored guidance and support for anyone interested in using these, or any other ADR UK funded datasets in their research.

If you would like to find out more about the datasets; how to access them; what funding is available to support research using these datasets; and network with like-minded peers, then you should sign up to this workshop.

Workshop aims

The aims of the workshop are to bring academics and policy makers together to raise awareness of the ADR UK datasets; inform academic and government researchers about how they can get access these datasets; identify what funding schemes are available to support research using these datasets; and give delegates the chance to connect with others and jointly explore research ideas that can be addressed using the new ADR UK datasets.

Through a combination of presentations and facilitated discussions, the objective is to stimulate ideas for research, and encourage and support individuals and research collaborators to bid for funding to further their research agenda and improve the evidence base needed for better policy.

Who is behind the workshop?

The workshop is a collaboration between the University of the West of England, ADR UK and the Office for National Statistics, with support from research funders and academics who have previously been funded to produce pathfinder research using at least one of the ADR UK datasets.

Who should attend

We expect the workshop to be attended by researchers (in academia, government, or the third or private sectors) and ‘policy makers’ (including national and regional government analysts in policy areas). Specifically, this workshop should be of interest to

• Researchers who have (or would like to develop) an interest in empirical microdata research, which uses unit level observations (e.g. individual, enterprise etc.).
• Researchers looking to explore new research areas.
• Policy makers with specific questions not currently (or obviously) addressed by existing research.
• Policy makers wishing to explore the potential for research collaborations in their areas of research interest.

We strongly encourage participation by early-career researchers and PhD students.

Activities

The workshop will take the form of presentations and Q&As in the morning session, followed by more detailed case studies and interactive workshops in the afternoon. The workshops will be facilitated by thematic experts with experience of the datasets.

Timing

The workshops will be held as follows:

Location	University of West of England, Frenchay Campus, Bristol Business School (X-Block)
Date	21st May 2024
Arrival	10.00 – 10.30: Registration and Morning Refreshments
Morning Session	10.30 – 10.40: Opening Remarks   Professor Yvonne Beach: Pro-Vice Chancellor and Head of the College of Business and Law, UWE   10.40 – 11.10: ADR UK Flagship Datasets Emily Oliver and Elizabeth Pattinson: Research and Capacity Building, ADR UK   11.10 – 11.30: Accessing and working with microdata   Alice McTiernan, Phil Yule and Liam Jones Office for National Statistics   11.30 – 11.45: Research Funding for ADR UK Datasets Alex Beer: Head of Grants Operations and Portfolio Development, Nuffield Foundation   11.45 – 12.00: Panel Q&A
Lunch	12.00 – 12.40
Afternoon Session (1)	Research Case Studies using ADR UK flagship datasets 12.40 – 13.00: The Value of Green Jobs – Damian Whittard: Associate Professor, UWE   13.00 – 13.20: Family Justice – Dr Ludivine Garside: Senior Research Associate, University of Bristol   13.20 – 13.40: Teacher Predicted vs. Achieved Grades for          University Admission – Professor George Leckie: University of Bristol   13.40 – 14.00: Low Pay and Labour Mobility – Professor Felix   Ritchie, UWE   14.00 – 14.15: Panel Q&A
Coffee break	14:15 – 14:30
Afternoon Session (2)	14:30 -15:30 Workshop Session: Bringing academics and policy analysts together to explore ideas for research using the ADR UK flagship datasets
	15:30 – 16:00 Closing remarks and Refreshments

Attendance fee and registration

Register here

There is no fee for attending. Registration is required to allow planning for catering, registering with security and in case of over-subscription. The event will be limited to a maximum of 50 participants. Delegates will receive confirmation of their place at least seven days in advance of the event. If oversubscribed, delegates who were unable to attend will be sent a summary report and invited to any future events.  

Contact details

For further information, please contact damian2.whittard@uwe.ac.uk