The (early months of the) Early Years Longitudinal Survey

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The (early months of the) Early Years
Longitudinal Survey

• Simon Anderson

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Overview

• Background to the survey
• The scoping and consultation process
• Key design considerations
• Timetable for coming months

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Background

• SEED Research Committee identified need to look
  at future data needs
• Fed into Executive-wide scoping exercise to
  identify the requirement for longitudinal data.
• Two significant information gaps identified in
  the area of children/young people
• Early Years
• Youth transitions
• Looked at potential for addressing these through
  a longitudinal survey

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Main aims

• Provide resource for monitoring and evaluating
  effectiveness of early years/children's services
  policies
• Contribute to the development of the early
  years/children's services evidence base for the
  Executive and the wider research community

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Requirements

• Face-to-face survey of parents
• Intensive focus on EY group, but opportunities
  for follow-up through childhood and adolescence
• Core plus modular structure
• Cross-sectional and longitudinal function
• National representation, but also capable of
  analysis by urban/rural, deprived/non-deprived
  etc.
• Systematic approach to target groups of key
  policy interest

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Research team and contract

• Two-part contract
• Initial scoping study
• First two years fieldwork
• Multi-level team
• NatCen in collaboration with CRFR (Core Project
  Team)
• Project Affiliates
• Wider consultation/involvement

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The scoping study

• Main objectives
• Matching methods and content to policy need
• Embedding the study in wider networks
• Main elements
• Interviews with key stakeholders
• Consultation events Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen
• Methodological review

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Existing questions sets

• Child development
• Child physical and mental health
• Diet and physical activity
• Sleeping patterns
• Parenting behaviours
• Parents well-being
• Sources of support
• Couple relationships

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Other studies being looked at

• Millennium Cohort Study
• Birth Cohort series
• EPPE study
• Avon Longitudinal Survey
• Families and Children Survey
• Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions
• West of Scotland, 11-16 study
• Parents demand for access to childcare survey

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Hard choices

• No single correct design different
  configurations offer range of pros and cons
• Key areas of choice include
• Cost versus sample size
• Cross-sectional versus longitudinal data
• Short-term versus long-term interests
• Breadth versus depth in subject coverage
• Core sample versus key target groups

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Sample design considerations

• Three main types of data
• Cross-sectional time-specific
• Cross-sectional time series
• Longitudinal

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Age at interview Age at interview Age at interview Age at interview Age at interview
Year 0-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5
2004 BC1 YC1-2 YC2-3 YC3-4 YC4
2005 BC2 BC1 YC1-2 YC2-3 YC3-4
2006 BC3 BC2 BC1 YC1-2 YC2-3
2007 BC4 BC3 BC2 BC1 YC1-2
2008 BC5 BC4 BC3 BC2 BC1
2009 BC6 BC5 BC4 BC3 BC2
2010 BC6 BC5 BC4 BC3
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Age at interview Age at interview Age at interview Age at interview Age at interview
Year 0-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5
2004 BC1 YC2-3
2005 BC1 YC2-3
2006 BC1 YC2-3
2007 BC2 BC1
2008 BC2 BC1
2009 BC2
2010 BC3 BC2
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Key target groups

• Children in single parent families
• Children living in poverty
• Children in rural communities
• Children in Minority Ethnic households
• Children with SENs
• Children with disabilities
• Looked After Children

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Other key issues

• Sampling frame CB records or CHI?
• Value/feasibility of data linkage
• Relationship to other surveys (e.g. MCS)
• Arrangements for sample maintenance
• Arrangements for dissemination and utilisation
• Predicting the future trends in data protection,
  data collection and data linkage

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Where now?

• Consultation events in early March
• Report and recommendations to the Scottish
  Executive at end March
• Sampling and questionnaire development
  March-September
• Fieldwork starts Autumn 2004

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Consultation events

• Aberdeen 12th March
• Edinburgh 12th March
• Glasgow 11th March
• Details at www.crfr.ac.uk
• www.scotcen.org.uk