How do we work with researchers?
ADR UK works with expert researchers from academic institutions and other research bodies to utilise administrative data and produce valuable insights into UK society. Access to good quality administrative data is extremely valuable for research, facilitating a far more accurate and comprehensive picture of UK society than can be achieved without it.
If you are a researcher interested in accessing data linked and curated by ADR UK, depending upon the nature of your research and the data you require your user journey will look something like this:
For example, if you would like to access linked data from the 'Growing Up in England' dataset within the Children & Young People theme, this involves being granted accreditation to access the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Secure Research Service (SRS). To access the SRS, all researchers must pass an assessment before access to the service and the data required can be granted.
More information about how to become an Accredited Researcher and access data held in the SRS can be found on the ONS website.
If you are interested in accessing data from one of the devolved centres, your route might be slightly different. For example, for administrative data curated by ADR Wales and held within the SAIL Databank, access involves a two-stage process. First, an initial application and scoping document must be drawn up, which is to be completed by a SAIL Databank analyst following a discussion about a potential project. Second, an application must be made to gain Information Governance Review Panel (IGRP) approval. For data curated by ADR Scotland, the Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research (SCADR) Researcher Handbook has a wealth of information about accessing data, including tips on developing an application. Data linked and curated by ADR Northern Ireland is managed and held by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA); more information can be found on the NISRA website.
To find out more about how to access administrative data curated and held by ADR Northern Ireland, ADR Scotland and ADR Wales, please contact the relevant partner on the Contact Us page.
You can find out more about the data already available across the partnership for research projects in the public interest by visiting the ADR UK Data Catalogue.
You can learn about what ADR UK flagship datasets are available at Flagship Datasets, which are also findable in the data catalogue.
For more information on the data access journey, visit the Learning Hub page Accessing data for research.
Research funding
If you are a researcher in need of additional funding to undertake a proposed project using ADR UK-curated data, there are a number of sources that may be open to you.
ADR UK runs a number of competitive open calls, as part of our Research Fellowship Scheme, to carry out research using selected ADR UK-curated datasets. You can find out about current calls on our Funding Opportunities page.
Even if ADR UK cannot fund you directly, there are a number of other options to fund research using our datasets, including:
Please note, having already secured funding is not an essential pre-requisite for project approval by the relevant panels and data holders. It is up to you as the researcher at which stage of the project approval process you apply for funding, if you require it.
For more information about ADR UK’s areas of research, see Our Research Themes.
Quality
ADR UK’s approach delivers one of the richest sources of data available for economic and social researchers. By linking data ADR UK offers the opportunity to study important issues and construct a more comprehensive picture of life in the UK. Society is complex, but the public sector data we enable access to can help untangle the many factors and dynamics at play.
Inclusivity
Administrative data is one of the most inclusive sources of data available, with records documenting all interactions with public services, ensuring representation of marginalised and underrepresented groups. Additionally, ADR UK’s partnership structure facilitates analysis on a UK-wide scale for researchers focused on studying issues within and across the home nations.
Engage with a public panel to inform your research
Understanding the public’s needs, interests and concerns in relation to the use of their data, and shaping research to address these, is essential for maximising the public benefit of administrative data research. Across ADR UK, we are therefore committed to embedding public engagement as a vital part of the research we enable.
To carry out public engagement as part of your research, you can engage with public panels. These are a growing element of ADR UK’s public engagement work, providing a platform for members of the public to offer valuable feedback:
- The SAIL Consumer Panel for Data Linkage Research was established in 2011 and acts as a public voice in ADR Wales' work, providing input on governance systems, public engagement plans and research practices.
- ADR Scotland’s Public Panel, set up in 2019 and maintained by the Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research (SCADR), ensures members of the public are consulted on and involved in the administrative data research undertaken by ADR Scotland.
- The ADR England Public Insights Panel, established in 2024, is a diverse group of members of the public who contribute to shaping data-driven research and processes. The panel primarily supports the ADR England portfolio, the Integrated Data Service, and the UK Statistics Authority, but guests can apply to engage with the panel.
