Introducing the Administrative Data Research Network Melanie Wright Administrative Data Service

What is the ADRN?  New national research infrastructure  Research access to (linked) government administrative data  Central and regional government sources  Tax records  Benefits records  Educational records  Criminal records  etc Introducing the Administrative Data Research Network| Melanie Wright | 8 July 2014

What’s so special about ADRN?  Fulfills government transparency agenda; feeds Beyond 2011 census agenda  BUT big public concerns about use of government collected personal data for research  Unlike survey data, these data are not collected for research purposes and are not only unconsented but many involuntary  So, especially in the wake of care.data, the trust issues are enormous! Introducing the Administrative Data Research Network| Melanie Wright | 8 July 2014

The history of the ADRN  Frontiers meeting (May 2011)  Administrative Data Taskforce (2012)  Chancellor’s autumn statement (Dec 2012)  Government response (June 2013)  ESRC commissioning of ADRN (Jul-Oct 13)  Website :  Beta-test (now)  Full service (Autumn 2014-) Introducing the Administrative Data Research Network| Melanie Wright | 8 July 2014

Phase 1 of larger Big Data investment Introducing the Administrative Data Research Network| Melanie Wright | 8 July 2014

Our Structure  Four Administrative Data Research Centres (ADRCs), one in each UK country  England – led by University of Southampton  Northern Ireland – led by Queens Uni Belfast  Scotland – led by University of Edinburgh  Wales – led by Swansea University  Coordinating Administrative Data Service (ADS) – led by University of Essex Introducing the Administrative Data Research Network| Melanie Wright | 8 July 2014

How It Works (1)  Website “front door”  Application support  Ethical review, privacy assessment  Approvals Panel of independent experts  Accreditation and training  Students paired with responsible mentor  Negotiation for permission to access & link Introducing the Administrative Data Research Network| Melanie Wright | 8 July 2014

How It Works (2)  Linkage via Trusted Third Party  Analysis of de-identified linked data in secure environment  Results of analyses checked before released  Penalties for misbehaviour severe  Plain English summaries of research published  Syntax preserved and shared Introducing the Administrative Data Research Network| Melanie Wright | 8 July 2014

Our Governance and Oversight  ADRN Board convened by UK Statistics Authority – reports to Parliament  Management Committee convened by ESRC – reports to BIS  Approvals Panel of independent experts  Expert Scientific Advisory groups Introducing the Administrative Data Research Network| Melanie Wright | 8 July 2014

Public Engagement: Key Takeaway Lessons  Transparency, transparency, transparency  Independence is good  De-identification and linkage procedures are very important  Strong opposition to commercial usage  Public benefit must be clear  Understandable but accurate messages are hard Introducing the Administrative Data Research Network| Melanie Wright | 8 July 2014

Implementation of Lessons Learned  Involve public in decision-making  Lay members on ADRN Board, Approvals Panel  Consultation, not fait accompli  Beta-test period  Talk to those who have concerns  Engaging with activists  Be prepared for intense scrutiny & spin  Transparency key; publish everything  Public benefit the goal Introducing the Administrative Data Research Network| Melanie Wright | 8 July 2014

Our Mission and Vision To benefit society and quality of life through intelligent social research To place the UK at the forefront of innovative social and economic research Introducing the Administrative Data Research Network| Melanie Wright | 3 July 2014