ESRC National Strategy Committee
for Longitudinal Studies

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The provision of a wide range of longitudinal research resources in the social sciences is critical to a vibrant national research culture that has a strong international visibility. In a larger and richer system such as the USA a diverse portfolio of resources may be developed with essentially uncoordinated activity. However the fact that longitudinal studies required sustained funding plans over long time scales raises greater questions in a smaller system such as the UK. So the essential mission of the National Strategy is to keep this aspect of Britain's role in global social science research adequately resourced and encouraged, in the context of national research goals. Thus, the core task for the strategy is to propose answers to the question: what can the ESRC and other funders do to promote this area of research in a co-ordinated manner?

The UK is quite well provided with longitudinal materials. The range of British cohort studies is unique internationally, and the ESRC's continued investment in these and in the BHPS, is widely respected; the ONS Longitudinal Study based on the Census and registration is a major component. The new English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) will be an important addition. These developments reflect the joint contributions of a range of funders, but especially the ESRC and a range of government departments. In recent years co-ordination between these funders has secured a significant expansion in the range and scale of longitudinal studies.

The following are a number of aspects of the ways that the National Strategy Committee can appropriately contribute to the planning, and intervene in the conduct, of the longitudinal data collection programme.

• Considering the concerted plans for all the studies: ensuring no conflicts and maximising co-operation; checking that available funding corresponds to future plans; identifying future funding problems and encouraging funding agencies to remedy these; proposing priorities where there are conflicting claims; promoting collaboration among sponsors
• Considering user needs for longitudinal data: new needs that may be met through adaptations of existing studies; improving the accessibility of materials which are currently under-utilised; promoting new studies.
• Carrying out evaluations of existing studies, based on statements of study purposes, the evolution of user needs, and quality reviews: making recommendations to Principle Investigators and funders on the conduct of studies.
• Commissioning scientific impact studies - these are crucial for motivating the public financing of the studies, insofar as they provide the basis for the cases to be made in the ESRC's submission to the annual public spending review for new items in its budget.

Please download a copy of the main document (MS/Word format).