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 (SCADR). 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, including children's lives and outcomes, lifelong health and wellbeing, health and social care, poverty and fair work, and building safer communities.
The partners
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 has 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, by visiting Research Data Scotland, or in the SCADR Researcher Handbook.
The Strategy
ADR Scotland’s Strategy 2022 – 2026 highlights their goals to enhance the administrative data landscape in Scotland by improving data quality and access, building capacity and creating more sustainable data assets. This will collectively enable research to benefit the Scottish population and address major policy and social challenges.
How is it funded?
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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Scottish Historic Population Platform (SHiPP)
11 August 2023
This project aims to create a research-ready database based on Scottish civil registration certificates of births, deaths, and marriages from 1855 to 1973.
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Analysing labour market transitions: 2011 Census linked to Benefits and Income – England and Wales
14 July 2023
The project will study how the disadvantages suffered by certain groups can vary over their life course or change in relation to factors such as household circumstances and geographical context. These groups have been identified by health and disability status, caring responsibilities, migrant status, and ethnicity. The project team will analyse the impact of different forms of disadvantage on labour market outcomes, measured by receipt of benefits related to non-working status.
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Deaths at home during the Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland
14 July 2023
This project builds on ADR Scotland’s earlier work, exploring the increase in deaths at home during the Covid-19 pandemic and its implications for end-of-life care and health service usage.
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Publications
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Infants born into care in Scotland
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The impact of Covid-19 on children's care processes in Scotland
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Were people who died at home less likely to attend hospital at the end of life during the Covid pandemic?
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Data Insights: Youth movements, social mobility and health inequalities - update
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Children and Young People and their Data: pilot project report
ADR Scotland Datasets
The ADR UK data catalogue makes it easier to discover the growing collection of administrative datasets available for public-good research. Browse datasets from ADR Scotland.
ADR Scotland Partners
Get in touch
If you are a Scottish data holder, policymaker or researcher interested in how ADR Scotland can support your work, please get in touch with the ADR Scotland team.