1. NILS Research Showcase
March 29th 2018

2. The Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study
Ian Shuttleworth
QUB

3. The NILS-RSU Supports researchers in using the NILS data
Processes
Applications, approval, data extracts, the safe environment, checking of outputs
Engagement with prospective users and promoting the use of NILS research
Publicity, capacity building (eg training), trying to encourage the use of NILS research for the public good
More to NILS than this
NISRA – data
Data linkage, updates, data dictionaries, data description
Academic/public partnership and investment
Data should be used, research should have benefits

4. The NILS
Longitudinal database of people and their major life events based on existing data sources
Health card data linked to Census and administrative data
Sample members selected based on birth date
104 birth dates/365 dates
c.28% sample
c.500,000 people
Also NIMS, the census linked to all deaths, 1991, 2001 and NIMS

5. The Structure of the NILS:
Health Card registrations
Includes new members
Vital Events:
Births, Deaths and Marriages
1981 Census*
1991 Census
2001 Census
2011 Census
Migration data
Area Characteristics
NILS Databases
For distinct linkage projects, Health – and Social Care data (held by the BSO) can be linked to the NILS.
Household Characteristics
Slide shows the structure of the datasets in the NILS and NIMS.
Complete census data for study members and for people living in the same household as a study member from 1981 to
Civil registration system
Births of sample members
Births to sample mothers
Births to sample fathers
Deaths of sample members
Marriages of sample members
Health card registration system
Immigration
Emigration
Internal migration
Land & Property Services
Housing data
Health & Social Care
Health data linked in one-off distinct linkage projects (e.g. prescription data, dental treatments) subject to approval
Mention the datasets supplied from Catherine
Individual Project Datasets
Property Characteristics

6. Available Data: Census Variables plus other data
Census Data 1981*, 1991, 2001 & 2011
Vital Events Data
Age, sex, marital status
Religion
Family, household or communal establishment
Housing, tenure, rooms & amenities
Country of birth, ethnicity
Educational qualifications
Economic activity, occupation & social class
Migration
LLTI, general health, caregiving
* Note: not all data available in 1981
New births into the sample
Births to sample members
Infant mortality of children to sample members
Deaths of sample members from 1991
Marriage of sample members
Widow(er)hoods of sample members
LPS Property Data
Health Card Registration Datasets
Capital and rating value
Household
characteristics (no. of rooms, property
type, floor space, central heating)
Demographics: age, status & location
Migration:
Immigration to the sample
Emigration out of sample
Re-entry of sample members to NI Internal migration
Other data
Weather , 5 x 5km resolution
Pollution data, 1 x 1km resolution
Education?

7. Accessing the NILS

8. The uses of the NILS

9. Useful websites
List of current projects - centres/NILSResearchSupportUnit/Projects/
List of outputs - centres/NILSResearchSupportUnit/Outputs/
General description - centres/NILSResearchSupportUnit/About/