Scottish Longitudinal Study
Development & Support Unit
News
Training: introduction to using administrative data for social and health research
Edinburgh, Monday 2 December – Thursday 5 December (with optional ONS Safe Researcher training on Friday 6 December)
Interested in using linked administrative data in your research but don’t know what data is out there, how to access it, or if you have the skills needed? If you are a social or health researcher with experience of analysing survey data, or if you already work with administrative data but want to analyse multiple datasets linked together, this course is for you.
The course (run jointly by the Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research and the Scottish Longitudinal Study Development and Support Unit) will give an introduction to administrative data, describing what it is, as well as some of the particular problems in working with this type of data and how to deal with them. Theoretical sessions will be backed up by hands-on practical sessions: using R or Stata to write syntax to tidy, clean and recode data; link datasets; manipulate data; conduct data visualisation; identify data quality issues; and fit regression models. Scottish Longitudinal Study (SLS) synthetic data will be used in the practical exercise.
Course participants who expect to access data shortly can also elect to attend free ONS Safe Researcher Training on 6th December.
· Cost: £350 for students, £500 for others.
· Apply: To apply to attend, complete the application form by 6 November.
Further information and booking:
Visit the course page for details and to apply, or email scadr@ed.ac.uk with any queries.
Population fact or fake news: You Decide!
4th November 2019, New Register House (The Dome), 3 West Register Street, Edinburgh EH1 3YT
In an age of fake news, can you tell population fact from fiction? What is the average age of the population? What proportion are immigrants? How many people live with an illness or disability?
Join social science experts from the Scottish Longitudinal Study (SLS) and the Usher Institute and test yourself with an interactive smartphone and tablet based quiz featuring real-time live results and interactive discussion.
Showcasing the importance of accurate and rigorous statistical data this event will highlight our own mis-perceptions and biases and help you figure out fact from fiction!
Note: audience members will need to bring an internet enabled device (e.g. smartphone/ tablet/ laptop) in order to participate in the interactive elements of the event.
The event is open to the public.
Entry is FREE.
Event time: 14:00 – 16:00
Booking via Eventbrite
Email: sls@lscs.ac.uk
An Introduction to using the UK Census Longitudinal Study (UKcenLS)
6th November 2019, UCL Christopher Ingold Building, 20 Gordon Street, Kings Cross, London, WC1H 0AJ
UKcenLS team: Lee Williamson & Tom Clemens (SLS-DSU), Oliver Duke-Williams & Nicola Shelton (CeLSIUS)
This introductory training workshop session is designed to introduce people unfamiliar with the UK Census Longitudinal Studies (UKcenLS) and the unique social science that can be undertaken with microdata that tracks individuals over time, to the kinds of analyses that can be carried out using UKcenLS.
The session will provide a general introduction to the UKcenLS datasets: England and Wales ONS LS, Scotland LS (SLS) and Northern Ireland LS (NILS).
This introduction will be followed by an opportunity for delegates to have a hands-on session to:
• explore which variables are held by each LS in the data dictionary and use test data;
• have help completing an application to use LS data (main example from the SLS);
• meet Support Unit staff from CeLSIUS & the SLS-DSU to discuss the development of new research projects.
*Please bring your own laptop for the hands-on part of the session.*
No previous experience of microdata or statistical analysis techniques is required.
The event is open to all UK registered students, university staff and those working for government agencies or local authorities.
THIS EVENT IS FREE
*The SLS-DSU will be in contact with registered participants nearer the time of the event to to confirm preferred statistical packages.*
Event timings: 13:30-17:30
BOOKINGS VIA EVENTBRITE
Email: sls@lscs.ac.uk
An Introduction to Survival Analysis using the Scottish Longitudinal Study Training Dataset
7th November 2019, UCL Christopher Ingold Building, 20 Gordon Street, Kings Cross, London, WC1H 0AJ
This is a one-day workshop on survival analysis for time to event data suitable for those with experience of statistical analyses but new to this type of analysis. This course would be of particular interest to those considering using the Scottish Longitudinal Study to analyse time to event data.
This workshop will introduce methods to display and model time to event data, including Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox proportional hazards regression. The survival analysis theory will be complimented with hands-on practical sessions using Stata (R if sufficient interest is indicated) on training datasets. Presentations of real projects will also be given to demonstrate research potential.
The course is intended for postgraduate students, academics and social or health researchers interested in learning how to do survival analysis in a statistical package. The course assumes some skills in statistical analysis, in particular a good knowledge of multiple regression and logistic regression would be beneficial. Additionally, a familiarity with using Stata or R syntax/command files is essential.
Course programme:
- Features of survival data including censoring and truncation
- Plotting survival data
- Log-rank tests
- Hazard rates
- Cox proportional hazard models
Event Time: 09:30-17:00
REGISTRATION: 09:00 – 09:30
The event is open to all UK registered students, university staff and those working for government agencies or local authorities.
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN LAPTOP
THIS IS A FREE EVENT
* Nearer the time, the SLS-DSU will email registered participants to confirm their preferred statistical package – Stata or R.*
BOOKINGS VIA EVENTBRITE
Email: sls@lscs.ac.uk
TRAINING: Introduction to using administrative data for social and health research
Edinburgh, Monday 2 December – Thursday 5 December (with optional ONS Safe Researcher training on Friday 6 December)
Interested in using linked administrative data in your research but don’t know what data is out there, how to access it, or if you have the skills needed? If you are a social or health researcher with experience of analysing survey data, or if you already work with administrative data but want to analyse multiple datasets linked together, this course is for you.
The course (run jointly by the Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research and the Scottish Longitudinal Study Development and Support Unit) will give an introduction to administrative data, describing what it is, as well as some of the particular problems in working with this type of data and how to deal with them. Theoretical sessions will be backed up by hands-on practical sessions: using R or Stata to write syntax to tidy, clean and recode data; link datasets; manipulate data; conduct data visualisation; identify data quality issues; and fit regression models. Scottish Longitudinal Study (SLS) synthetic data will be used in the practical exercise.
Course participants who expect to access data shortly can also elect to attend free ONS Safe Researcher Training on 6th December.
· Cost: £350 for students, £500 for others.
· Apply: To apply to attend, complete the application form by 6 November.
Further information and booking:
Visit the course page for details and to apply, or email scadr@ed.ac.uk with any queries.
https://www.scadr.ac.uk/
Glasgow Skeptics & the Longitudinal Studies Centre Scotland present: How Well Do You Know Your Population?
The SLS Team will be participating in the Glasgow Science Festival. Join us on:
10th June
153-157 Waterstones, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow
Doors 18:30. Event 19:00-21:00
Free
Drop in
New Secure Researcher Training Course Dates
Dates are now available for the new Secure Researcher Training Course which is approved by the ONS and being run by ADRC-S and SLS-DSU. The new course will replace the previous Safe Researcher Training (SURE) provided by ADRC-S. If you previously undertook Safe Researcher Training which is still valid, then you do not have to renew this until the designated expiry date. If your SURE training is due for renewal it would be a good idea to book on one of the courses as soon as possible to ensure your training remains current.
The Secure Training Courses will be run on:
· 25th January
· 1st February
· 15th February
· 22nd February
April dates coming soon.
This interactive course runs from 10:00 – 16:00 and will be held at NINE Edinburgh Bioquarter. Lunch will be provided.
Materials and a an online test will be provided a few days after attendance. You must pass the test in order to access data through ADRC-S, SLS or ONS.
Information is available on the ADRC-S website or register your interest: adrc-s@ed.ac.uk The ADRC-S will be in touch to confirm your place.
SLS Christmas Closure Period
The SLS-DSU in Ladywell House, Edinburgh will be closed from 24th December to 7th January inclusive
Wishing you all a Happy Festive Season
SLS-DSU one day closure
The SLS-DSU and Safe Setting at Ladywell House, will be closed due to staff training on Friday 18th May. Apologies for any inconvenience.
RSU public holiday closures May 2018
Researchers should note that the RSUs will close on the following dates in May:
- CeLSIUS and VMLs – closed Monday 7th, Monday 28th May
- SLS-DSU – closed Monday 7th May
- NILS-RSU – closed Monday 7th, Monday 28th May
