Introduction to the Education Outcomes Linkage dataset (National Centre for Research Methods)

This short online course provides an introduction to the Education Outcomes Linkage (EOL) 2018/19-2021/22 dataset. The course will include a mixture of lectures and interactive discussions with experts. It will be administered online by the National Centre for Research Methods.

The EOL 2018/19-2021/22 is a longitudinal relational dataset comprised of a range of tables containing post primary schools’ data for pupils aged 14 and over in Northern Ireland. Find out more.

This course will suit anyone interested in conducting quantitative data analyses using this education data from Northern Ireland. This may include - but is not limited to - quantitative researchers in academic, government, or third sector settings. People at any stage in their research career would be welcome, but the course is most likely of interest to Master’s and PhD students, early career researchers, and mid-career researchers. 

Participants do not need to have specialist prior knowledge of the dataset or statistical software, but a basic knowledge of research design and quantitative data analysis would be beneficial. 

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The course will be delivered in three interactive sessions, with breakout rooms in each session, as well as opportunities to engage with conference facilitators, expert users and data owners.

Session 1:

• Introduction/housekeeping
• The demography and education system in Northern Ireland
• The datasets included, how they are linked, coverage and variables in the EOL, inclusion and exclusion criteria

Session 2:

• Case studies using the linked dataset
• Accessing the data – application
• An overview of the EOL user guide and metadata
• Summary of morning sessions and Q&A

Session 3:

• Output clearance – statistical disclosure controls
• The future of the EOL
• Q&A with expert users and data owners
• Summary of the course

By the end of the course participants will: 

• Be aware of the application process to access the data share 
• Be familiar with the content of the data, including strengths and limitations 
• Understand Northern Ireland's demography and education system
• Know how to create successful outputs for clearance  
• Discover previous and current research using the EOL dataset.

Presenters

Members of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) Research Support Unit - who  were responsible for the creation of the EOL dataset or who provide researchers with support in applying to use the EOL - will present at the event:

• Peter Wilgar 
• Nichola McCullough 
• Eoin Norris  
• Colm Lavery
• Megan McAlister.

The course will include a session that demonstrates how EOL has been used to answer research questions in education. A member of a research team from either Queen’s University Belfast or Ulster University will lead this session.  

There will also be a Q&A session, where attendees can ask about the data included. Members from the NISRA branch of the Department of Education Northern Ireland will attend this.

Participants will be directed to online course materials in advance, as well as be informed of key publications by the Northern Ireland Department of Education and NISRA. Course notes will be circulated by email after the event. 

Agenda

• Introduction/housekeeping (lecture) (10 mins) 
• Overview of the EOL and available data (35 mins) 
• Accessing the data (35 mins) 
• Break (15 mins) 
• Demography and the education system in Northern Ireland (20 mins) 
• Successfully clearing outputs (25 mins) 
• Summary of morning and Q&A (15 mins) 
• Break (50 mins) 
• Case studies using the dataset (25 mins) 
• Future plans for the EOL and Longitudinal Education Outcomes Northern Ireland (15 mins) 
• Q&A with expert users and data owners (30 mins).

Event details

When: 10:00-14:30, 26 March 2025

Where: Online

Cost: 

The fee per teaching day is: 

• £35 per day for registered students at any university. 
• £75 per day for staff at academic institutions, Research Councils researchers, public sector staff, staff at registered charity organisations, and recognised research institutions.  
• £250 per day for all other participants.

Registration: Find out more and register.