The SLS includes many of the standard geographical units across time, some of which are harmonised. It is possible to analyse at several geographical levels, however, because low geographical areas soon lead to low numbers of observations, the use of these variables requires special attention to issues of disclosure and confidentiality.  Thus, some geographical units are considered restricted and analysis cannot be carried out at these levels (ie postcodes). Other small areas can be made available for research in a pseudo format – ie Census Output Areas provided as random numbers to use as levels for multilevel modelling (as level 3 restricted variables), or Data Zones available as level 3 restricted variables within the SLS for modelling.

SLS users wishing to use their own ecological measures can request that these be temporarily attached to the SLS for the purpose of their project. It is normally possible to bring in any ecological indicators to the SLS and link them at whatever standard geographical unit they are available. For example, pollution and weather data may be linked to the SLS at postcode level, however, this is done via separation of postcode data and project (payload) data, whereby researchers work with SLS staff to add them on, then staff remove the postcodes and transfer the ecological indicators into the main project area.

Several geographical and ecological indicators have been linked to the SLS at Census. These are provided by NRS as part of lookups for Census linkage each time, such as:

• deprivation scores (Carstairs, Townsend, SIMD)
• population density
• urban-rural indicators

However, as SIMD is updated regularly, it is usually better to bring in ecological deprivation data and link it within the SLS Safe Setting by Data Zone. The 2020 SIMD data can be downloaded from the Scottish Government or older versions from their archive website.

The weather and pollution data are freely available to download from their sources.  To download or find technical information, visit the Met Office (weather data), or DEFRA (pollution data).

We also have the ‘Annual Residential Location’ data available from 2000 to 2015. It is from an administrative data change – ie GP history changes of address within the NHS system – which can be used indirectly to look as residential mobility between the Census years. Please see the SLS Data Dictionary table E10: NHS Postcode History for SLS members (2000-2015) for more information on which variables are included from the GP address change and discuss with SLS staff on how to operationalise it for research use.  It is fairly new to the SLS database, and similar to other low level SLS geographies, it must be processed away from the main SLS project (payload) extract data.