1. Sabrina Iavarone Senior User Services Officer
The Administrative Data Research Network NTTS Conference – 14th March 2017, Brussels
Sabrina Iavarone
Senior User Services Officer

2. This presentation What we do About the Network Some background
Safe exchange & disclosure of microdata with the ADRN
The Administrative Data Research Network| NTTS|

3. What we do (1)
Provide a robust governance structure overseen by Parliament and the UK Statistics Authority
Independent scrutiny of research proposals
Opportunity for government departments to approve/ reject data access requests
Facilitate access to linked administrative data for socio-economic research with potential public benefit
Identify and develop pathways to access
Negotiate access on behalf of researchers
The Administrative Data Research Network| NTTS|

4. What we do (2)
Provide a secure linkage service via Trusted Third Parties
Train researchers in data security
Implement a secure national infrastructure to enable data analysis to be carried out with the minimum risk of disclosure
Undertake original socio economic and methodological research
Clear concise research reports on project completion
The Administrative Data Research Network| NTTS|

5. About the Network (1) – Our structure
Administrative Data Service - University of Essex
[Network coordination, first point of contact, UK data negotiations]
4 Administrative Data Research Centres
[secure environments, research support, original research]
England – University of Southampton
Northern Ireland – Queens University Belfast
Scotland – University of Edinburgh
Wales – Swansea University
The Administrative Data Research Network| NTTS|

6. About the Network (2) - How It Works
The Administrative Data Research Network| NTTS|

7. Some background…(1)
Dialogue on data - public engagement research commissioned by ESRC & ONS, conducted by Ipsos MORI
Public attitude towards the use of government administrative data linking for research purposes
The Administrative Data Research Network| NTTS|

8. Some background… (2)
Low awareness and understanding of value of social research
Social benefits necessary
But no clear definition of ‘social benefit’
Familiar with importance of data in modern society
But worried about data security
The Administrative Data Research Network| NTTS|

9. Some background …(3) - Administrative Data in the UK
administrative records are collected differently
not always fit for research, not well documented; no explicit consent
no common unique identifier that could help linkage
data retention policies vary
devolution = 4 countries
different levels of legislative, administrative & budgetary autonomy
acquiring data requires coordination and negotiation with multiple data owners and other parties – challenging, time and resources needed
different legal pathways
different levels of legislative, administrative & budgetary autonomy for each country (“devolved powers” e.g. education, health, income/tax)
acquiring data requires coordination and negotiation with multiple data owners and other parties
different legal pathways involved for each country
administrative records are collected differently
not always fit for research purposes (operational records); not well documented
no common unique identifier that could help linkage
data retention policies vary

10. Safe exchange & disclosure of microdata with the ADRN (1)
Criteria:
Non-commercial research
Evident potential public benefit
Unit level administrative data essential to research
Can‘t get data via existing services
Different from usual government operational analytical activities
Administrative Data Research Network| NTTS |

11. Safe exchange & disclosure of microdata with the ADRN (2)
Researchers:
From academia, the public sector or an RCUK independent research organisation
Capable of carrying out the research either independently or under the direction of an appropriate supervisor or lead investigator;
Willing to complete the joint Safe Use of Research Environments Training (UK Data Service, ADRN, HMRC, ONS)
‘Guaranteed’ by affiliated institution
Independent research organisation = organisations on the Research Councils UK list of eligible independent research organisations ( Third sector organisations can gain access to research carried out within ADRN by partnering with an academic or government researchers.
I am not affiliated with an academic institution, can I still use the ADRN?
Researchers can also be from:
a government department or agency
a research organisation eligible for Research Council UK funding.
Researchers using the ADRN need to:
complete a Researcher Application form
countersigned by your Institutional Guarantor
accept ADRN Terms of Use and Breaches Policy
successfully complete training
Early career researchers and PhD students:
also need to be supported by a Supervisor or experienced member of the research team.
The institutional guarantor:
A person within your organisation with the legal power to act on their behalf.
e.g. The Director of Research Grants and Contracts,
or similar person with the appropriate legal status
Information is available on our website if you need to:
provide them with information about the ADRN
explain their role and purpose in ADRN processes.
What does the training involve?
You will need to complete the training shortly before you access the data.
It provides researchers with:
the legal framework around research using administrative data
a basic understanding of how to safely analyse and publish administrative data,
and the principles of statistical disclosure .
Successfully completely the training is the last part of meeting our requirements
And the good news is you won’t need to complete this process again for any other ADRN projects you part of – as long as your training is up to date and you don’t change institutions.
The Administrative Data Research Network| NTTS|

12. Safe exchange & disclosure of microdata with the ADRN (3)
Data Linkage:
Provide a secure linkage via Trusted Third Party
Linkage to researchers’ surveys only with consent from respondents or participants to link the data
The data controllers’ permission to link it to researchers’ data
Use of Trusted Third Parties to ensure separation of identities and research data proved to be very effective in reassuring focus groups that respondent confidentiality is being preserved
The Administrative Data Research Network| NTTS|

13. Safe exchange & disclosure of microdata with the ADRN (4)
Data Analysis:
All data analysis and processing by researchers takes place within a secure environment.
ADRN does not disseminate datasets, only data access.
All data provided to ADRN remain within the secure environment in one of the ADRCs.
All analyses and results that researchers wish to place in the public domain are checked for possible disclosure by at least two ADRN staff members before being released.
The Administrative Data Research Network| NTTS|

14. Questions? Project Ideas? Get in touch…
w: adrn.ac.uk/about/contact/
w: adrn.ac.uk e: t:
The Administrative Data Research Network is funded by the ESRC.