Using administrative data offers many benefits for researchers, especially when working with large datasets that cover large populations of people. However, due to the sensitive nature and granularity of administrative data, it is legally protected to prevent unethical or improper use. Accessing it for research is therefore governed by the Digital Economy Act (DEA) 2017.
Following recommendations from the Administrative Data Taskforce (2012), the DEA was established to create a legal gateway for researchers to access de-identified administrative data in a streamlined way, “for the purpose of research in the public interest”.
Learn about the DEA’s ethical standards
- Research must clearly demonstrate public benefit.
- Research must use strictly de-identified data and comply with government security standards. Statistical disclosure controls are applied to minimise the risks of (in)direct re-identification of research subjects. This is important to prevent harm to data subjects, keeping their information secure and private.
- Researchers must be trained and accredited, and their projects must be approved.
- Research outputs are subject to peer review as part of the publication process, further minimising the risk of harm.
- Project outcomes should be made publicly available, for purposes of transparency.
This slide deck from the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) sets out the background to the DEA and why it is important for researchers wishing to access administrative data. You can also watch a video, which provides additional commentary.
Content from the slides and video is also provided in text format below.
Administrative data must be safeguarded due to its sensitive nature and granularity. The UKSA is the body appointed by UK Parliament to oversee the accreditation process under the DEA. It accredits trusted research environments (TREs), researchers, and projects based on a research code of practice and strict accreditation criteria.
The DEA benefits researchers by allowing more flexible data access than legislation governing other government departments. This flexibility is especially beneficial when data from multiple departments is linked, enabling researchers to access comprehensive datasets in a single, streamlined process.
Researchers must meet five requirements, including ethical standards, and follow a few steps. TREs serve as the main point of contact, guiding researchers though their data access journey.
All DEA accredited researchers and projects are added to a public register. This can be a useful resource for researchers to find out what projects have been done under the DEA and who is working on them.
