ADR Scotland
ADR Scotland (Administrative Data Research Scotland) is a partnership combining specialists in the Scottish Government’s Data for Research Unit with the expertise of academic researchers at the Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research. Together they are transforming how public sector data in Scotland is curated, accessed and explored, so it can deliver its full potential for policymakers and for the public.
ADR Scotland is helping to make administrative datasets more readily linkable and conducting research on a suite of critical issues in Scotland, from health and social care to lifelong wellbeing, and from poverty and fair work to building safer communities.
The Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research (SCADR) – hosted by the University of Edinburgh but involving academic researchers from across Scotland – brings many years of experience in understanding administrative data sets and their analysis, a track-record of methodological innovation, and a strong independent stakeholder network.
The Scottish Government brings proven experience in managing data-sharing and linkage projects, as well as access to and understanding of policymakers in government, and expertise in information governance. It is committed to taking forward a programme of work to develop a new infrastructure to support administrative data research.
You can find out more about how to access data in Scotland on the Trusted Research Environments page and in the SCADR Researcher Handbook.
ADR Scotland projects are commissioned in line with the ADR Scotland Strategy, which uses administrative data to focus on research that brings public benefit which responds to policy priorities in Scotland.
ADR Scotland is funded directly by the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) with a dedicated portion of the total investment in ADR UK, currently until March 2026. To find out more about how ADR UK is funded, see About Us. Further details of the grants awarded to Scottish Government and the University of Edinburgh can be seen on UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)’s Gateway to Research platform.
Working with ADR Scotland
ADR Scotland have developed a series of short guides to help data controllers understand how they can safely and securely have their data used as part of the ADR Scotland programme of research:
"Scotland has some of the best data in the world. By linking data together we can help address complex social and environmental challenges and fill vital evidence gaps for policy and decision makers. In this investment period, I am excited to continue our programme of work revolutionising access to public sector data and conducting research to systematically improve the lives of the people of Scotland.”
Ally McAlpine, Chief Statistician for the Scottish Government (interim)
ADR Scotland Projects
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Engaging with Children
10 August 2022
In this new pilot project, ADR Scotland is working in partnership with Children in Scotland to talk with children and young people directly to learn about their views on administrative data, how it is collected, stored and used and to discuss how results of research projects using data are communicated.
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Violence-related incidents and underlying vulnerability
27 January 2020
This research will explore how factors like mental health conditions, drug use and alcohol relate to incidents of violence and related demands for public services in Scotland.
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Illegal drug consignments
27 January 2020
This research aims to explore the illegal drugs supply in Scottish communities (particularly by post), focusing on the impacts of law enforcement tactics used to counter the delivery of drugs.
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ADR Scotland News
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Widening access to policy-relevant nursing and midwifery data in the UK
16 March 2023
For the first time, nursing and midwifery registrant data will be made available for research via the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Secure Research Service. The data can provide vital insights into the current state of nursing and midwifery in the UK and inform policy. This initiative is led by the Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research (SCADR), part of ADR Scotland.
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Children’s data rights: A comic from ADR Scotland
8 March 2023
ADR Scotland has worked with Children in Scotland to produce a data comic around children's rights. This feeds into its ongoing work to engage children and young people.
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Unlocking criminal justice data
16 November 2022
Last month, ADR Scotland hosted an online event on unlocking criminal justice data. The event attracted researchers and practitioners from a wide range of organisations, including universities, justice organisations and the Scottish and UK Government. They came together to discuss early findings from the exciting research projects using administrative data from the Data First programme.
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ADR Scotland Partners
Find out more
If you are a Scottish data holder or policy maker interested in how ADR Scotland can help increase the utility of your data and support your decision making priorities, please get in touch with the ADR Scotland team.