Recent News
Staff Vacancy
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our small team at the SLS-DSU. We are looking for a Technical Data Officer / Database Developer on the Scottish Longitudinal Study (SLS). Info & applications via the University of Edinburgh vacancies Closing date 30th April 2024. Read more...
SLS-DSU & Safe Setting Easter Closure Dates
The SLS-DSU & Safe Setting will be closed for Easter on Friday 29th March and Monday 1st April. Wishing all our service users a Happy Easter. Read more...
SLS Christmas Newsletter
Our Christmas Newsletter is available here Read more...
Christmas Closure Dates
Wishing all our service users a very happy festive break. The last Safe Setting day will be Wed 20th Dec 2023 (staff contactable until 21st Dec at 4pm). We will re-open on Thurs 4th Jan 2024 (staff contactable on 3rd Jan). Read more...
We’re Hiring!
SLS have an opening for a Technical Data Officer/Database Developer. Join our small, friendly team for your rewarding next step. Full details & application. Closing date 20th Nov, 23. Read more...
SLS-DSU Moving Date & Safe Setting Closure
The SLS-DSU moving date is 15th June 2023. As such, the final Safe Setting day in Ladywell House will be 14th June. The Safe Setting is CLOSED FROM 15TH – 30TH JUNE INCLUSIVE. Staff will still be contactable during this period. Safe Setting will re-open on 3rd July at New... Read more...
UKcenLS Survey for SLS Service Users
SLS Researchers….look out for our mailing list email distributed 17/04 on the UKcenLS Survey for SLS service users. Check spam if you haven’t received it or email Angela.Fallon@ed.ac.uk The SLS-DSU and our funders value your feedback. Read more...
SLS-DSU Easter Closure Dates
The SLS-DSU and Safe Setting will be closed on 7th and 10th April. Wishing all our service users a Happy Easter. Read more...
SLS-DSU Festive Closure Dates
Wishing all our service users a Happy Festive Season. The SLS-DSU will be closed for Christmas break from 22nd December through to the 4th January inclusive. The last full access day for the Safe Setting will be Tuesday 20th December, as on Wednesday 21st December the servers will be shut... Read more...
Come and work with us…
CLOSING DATE FAST APPROACHING – We are seeking a Methodology Research Support Officer with a stats background to work in the SLS-DSU based at Ladywell House, Edinburgh. Full or part-time hours considered. UoE Grade 7 post. Fixed term to Sep 2025. Closing date Monday 9th May 2022 at 5pm. Full... Read more...
Links to videos from our events
In case you missed the UKcenLS webinar on 10th December 2021, the video presentations can be viewed on the SLS YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFL9zFqHjPN4qzCQgTN9m1g/playlists You will also find videos on ‘An introduction to the SLS data’ recently shared with participants in the SLS drop in Q&A session on 28th January 2022.... Read more...
Vacancy: Methodology Research Support Officer
Come and work with us! We are currently looking for a Methodology Research Support Officer. Full details of the post and application procedure Closing date 28th February 2022 We look forward to hearing from you. Read more...
SLS-DSU Festive Closure Dates
The SLS-DSU staff will finish work on 24th Dec and will respond to enquiries again from 5th January 2022. The Safe Setting closed on 17th December and will re-open for bookings on 10th January 2022. Please contact Greg.Blackadder@nrscotland.gov.uk between 20th-24th December for Safe Setting bookings for the week of 10th... Read more...
An Introduction to the Scottish Longitudinal Study (SLS) Data – self-learn videos & live online R workshop
FRIDAY 28th JANUARY 2022, 10am-1pm Join us to learn about the SLS data at this free event via self-learn training materials and a hands-on online lab session in R. About this event: (i) You will be given access to self-learn training materials (videos) which will focus on the SLS and... Read more...
UKcenLS Webinar
Fri 10th December 2021, 10am-12pm GMT. Join us as we showcase the UK Census Longitudinal Studies (UKcenLS) datasets, along with current research using each UKcenLS unit’s data. Full Programme & Booking via Eventbrite Free online webinar Read more...
SLS-DSU closed on Monday 20th September 2021
Ladywell House will be closed on 20/09/21 for one day. SLS-DSU staff are still contactable by email. Safe Setting will reopen on Tuesday 21st September for pre-booked researchers. Apologies for the inconvenience. Read more...
New Blogs & Podcast
See 3 new blogs around ONS LS and the 2021 Census. Listen to the CeLSIUS podcast about research using the ONS LS – Stronger Towns: have the funds been allocated fairly? Read more...
Easter Closure Dates
Happy Easter to all our service users. The SLS-DSU & Safe Setting will be closed on Good Friday (02/04/21) and Easter Monday (05/04/21). Read more...
SLS-DSU still open for new applications and Safe Setting bookings
January 2021 – Policy in the event of SLS Safe Setting emergency closure: Due to social distancing restrictions we are working with minimal staff in Ladywell House. If we need to close the Safe Setting at short notice due to adverse weather conditions, staff sickness or another emergent situation, then we... Read more...
Christmas Closure Dates
Wishing you all a happy and peaceful festive break The 3 LS Research Support Units winter closure details are as follows: CeLSIUS – closes at 5.30pm on Fri 18 Dec, reopening on Mon 4 Jan SLS-DSU – closes at 4pm on Thur 17 Dec to Safe Setting users and 4pm... Read more...
SLS-DSU & Safe Setting is Open
We are delighted to announce the SLS-DSU and Safe Setting is open. Due to social distancing restrictions we are working with minimal staff in Ladywell House and we are restricted to two researchers in the Safe Setting at any one time. We are giving priority to projects with imminent deadlines... Read more...
Come and work for us at the SLS!
Are you interested in helping lead the management and development of a highly innovative research database and supporting its research use? Then you should come and work for us! The Scottish Longitudinal Study (SLS) has an exciting job opportunity to work as a Technical Data Support Officer (fixed-term 5 year... Read more...
Update from the SLS-DSU
It will probably come as no surprise that we are still unable to reopen the SLS-DSU & Safe Setting at Ladywell House. Staff are working from home but do not have remote access to data. We have been developing methods of working and a data approach in case of a... Read more...
Temporary Closure of SLS-DSU & Safe Setting
Unfortunately there will be a disruption to the service provided by the SLS-DSU due to COVID-19. Following the most recent announcement from the UK Government and advice from our employing organisations, we unfortunately will have to close the Safe Setting for an initial period of two weeks. This will be... Read more...
SLS-DSU Office Relocation & Temporary Safe Setting Closure
We hope you are having a great start to 2020. The SLS-DSU has some exciting news to share… We are moving to a new office space in Ladywell House with a larger Safe Setting! The downside is that unfortunately the Safe Setting will be closed to allow the move to... Read more...
Webinar: Investigating religion in the UK – what data can I use?
Tuesday 26th November 15:00 – 16:00 This free webinar, jointly organised by Understanding Society, CeLSIUS, the SLS-DSU is designed for anyone who would like to know more about sources of survey data available for investigating religion in the UK. Dr Yassine Khoudja, Goethe University Frankfurt, will talk about the data... Read more...
Training: introduction to using administrative data for social and health research
Edinburgh, Monday 2 December – Thursday 5 December (with optional ONS Safe Researcher training on Friday 6 December) Interested in using linked administrative data in your research but don’t know what data is out there, how to access it, or if you have the skills needed? If you are a... Read more...
Population fact or fake news: You Decide!
4th November 2019, New Register House (The Dome), 3 West Register Street, Edinburgh EH1 3YT In an age of fake news, can you tell population fact from fiction? What is the average age of the population? What proportion are immigrants? How many people live with an illness or disability? Join... Read more...
An Introduction to using the UK Census Longitudinal Study (UKcenLS)
6th November 2019, UCL Christopher Ingold Building, 20 Gordon Street, Kings Cross, London, WC1H 0AJ UKcenLS team: Lee Williamson & Tom Clemens (SLS-DSU), Oliver Duke-Williams & Nicola Shelton (CeLSIUS) This introductory training workshop session is designed to introduce people unfamiliar with the UK Census Longitudinal Studies (UKcenLS) and the unique... Read more...
An Introduction to Survival Analysis using the Scottish Longitudinal Study Training Dataset
7th November 2019, UCL Christopher Ingold Building, 20 Gordon Street, Kings Cross, London, WC1H 0AJ This is a one-day workshop on survival analysis for time to event data suitable for those with experience of statistical analyses but new to this type of analysis. This course would be of particular interest... Read more...
TRAINING: Introduction to using administrative data for social and health research
Edinburgh, Monday 2 December – Thursday 5 December (with optional ONS Safe Researcher training on Friday 6 December) Interested in using linked administrative data in your research but don’t know what data is out there, how to access it, or if you have the skills needed? If you are a... Read more...
Glasgow Skeptics & the Longitudinal Studies Centre Scotland present: How Well Do You Know Your Population?
The SLS Team will be participating in the Glasgow Science Festival. Join us on: 10th June 153-157 Waterstones, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow Doors 18:30. Event 19:00-21:00 Free Drop in Further information Read more...
New Secure Researcher Training Course Dates
Dates are now available for the new Secure Researcher Training Course which is approved by the ONS and being run by ADRC-S and SLS-DSU. The new course will replace the previous Safe Researcher Training (SURE) provided by ADRC-S. If you previously undertook Safe Researcher Training which is still valid, then you do not... Read more...
SLS Christmas Closure Period
The SLS-DSU in Ladywell House, Edinburgh will be closed from 24th December to 7th January inclusive Wishing you all a Happy Festive Season Read more...
SLS-DSU one day closure
The SLS-DSU and Safe Setting at Ladywell House, will be closed due to staff training on Friday 18th May. Apologies for any inconvenience. Read more...
RSU public holiday closures May 2018
Researchers should note that the RSUs will close on the following dates in May: CeLSIUS and VMLs – closed Monday 7th, Monday 28th May SLS-DSU – closed Monday 7th May NILS-RSU – closed Monday 7th, Monday 28th May Read more...
Vacancy: Early Stage Researcher Position
Applications are invited for an Early Stage Researcher position funded by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network “LONGPOP (Methodologies and Data mining techniques for the analysis of Big Data based on Longitudinal Population and Epidemiological Registers)” within the Horizon 2020 Programme of the European Commission. Read more...
JOB ADVERT: Senior Research Associate in CeLSIUS
Senior Research Associate in CeLSIUS – Ref:1721060 UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, London Grade 8 Part Time 18.25 hours per week (50% FTE) Salary (inclusive of London allowance) £43,023 per annum pro-rata for part time vacancies Duties and Responsibilities The person... Read more...
Fully Funded PhD based in the School of Natural and Built Environment, QUB “Cohort Life Chances 1991-2011” using the Census Longitudinal Studies
The project Suitably qualified candidates to undertake research leading to a PhD using the NILS and at least one of the other UK longitudinal studies on the general theme of cohort life chances 1991-2011 are sought. Applicants are at liberty to develop and to suggest topics within this general research... Read more...
CALLS Hub Handover, Spring 2018
The Census and Administrative data LongitudinaL Studies Hub (CALLS Hub) project will be drawing to a close at the end of March 2018. We will be working closely with the LS RSUs over the next few months to ensure that our key functions will continue through them. Disruption to users will... Read more...
Safe-setting Christmas closure dates 2017
This year the safe-settings for the Longitudinal Studies will be closed as follows over Christmas and the New Year: NILS-RSU – closed Friday 22nd December – Monday 1st January inclusive ONS LS – The ONS Secure Research Service (VML) will be closed Monday 25th December – Monday 1st January inclusive.... Read more...
Celebrating a Decade of Research with the SLS
The Scottish Longitudinal Study Development and Support Unit (SLS-DSU) has been supporting research projects for 10 years and to mark this achievement there will be a celebratory event on Thursday 7th December 2017. The event will showcase a selection of the many research projects which have been supported by the... Read more...
New 1936 Birth Cohort Study available to researchers
The SLS Birth Cohort of 1936 (SLSBC1936) is now available to external researchers. This cohort links SLS member present in the Scottish Mental Survey of 1947 (a cognitive ability test that included almost all Scottish children born in 1936) with the SLS. The outcome of the project is a powerful life course... Read more...
SLS research to feature at forthcoming AQMeN seminar
SLS research by Prof Cristina Iannelli is to feature in a forthcoming seminar hosted by AQMeN and The Scottish Government Education Analysis Division. Prof Iannelli’s research explored the role of subject choices in secondary education on further education studies and labour market outcomes – you can find out more about... Read more...
CALLS Hub Research Brief 3 now published: Long term health and socioeconomic outcomes for NEETs
The latest CALLS Hub Research Brief is now available, and was written by Zhiqiang Feng and colleagues from SLS-DSU. The brief summarises work from research commissioned by the Scottish Government on risk factors and outcomes for young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). “In this project we explore... Read more...
Exposure to air pollution 30 years ago associated with increased risk of death
Exposure to air pollution more than 30 years ago may still affect an individual’s mortality risk today, according to new research from Imperial College London using the ONS Longitudinal Study for England and Wales. The new report comes from one of the world’s longest running air pollution studies, which included... Read more...
New CALLS Hub Research Brief: The changing links between parental housing tenure and young adults’ homeownership in England and Wales
Rory Coulter from the University of Cambridge has written our most recent Research Brief. This summarises results from an ONS LS project investigating inter-generational influences on home-ownership. “This study examines the inter-generational transmission of (dis)advantage through the housing system by analysing how young adults’ chances of entering homeownership are linked... Read more...
UK LS Roadshow research presentations available to download
Research presentations from our UK LS Roadshows are now available to download! Keep an eye on our Twitter feed for announcements about our Welsh Roadshow event coming early next year. Aberdeen & Glasgow Roadshow slides: Protective effects of nurses’ health literacy: evidence from the Scottish Longitudinal Study (Dr Ian Atherton,... Read more...
Scottish Herald picks up on SLS NEETs project
The Scottish Herald today posted an article on the final report of the SLS project “Risk factors and consequences of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET)” which was presented to the Scottish Government. Zhiqiang Feng and his team found that being NEET after leaving school was a... Read more...
UK LS Roadshow 2015!
This year, CALLS Hub is hosting a series of Roadshows across the country to reach out to potential new LS users. Come along and find out more about our work, hear researchers share their results and speak to members of all three RSU teams! For more info and to book... Read more...
Synthetic ONS LS spine data now available!
We are very excited to announce that the first LS synthetic spine is now available to download! This allows you to try out using data which closely resembles the actual ONS LS data before making an application. Find out more about the Synthetic Data project and download the data –... Read more...
ONS LS and SLS dictionaries updated
We are pleased to announce that the ONS LS and SLS dictionaries have now been updated to their latest versions in our online searchable database. This means you can now search for 2011 variables for both Studies. SLS researchers should note that a new application form is now available from... Read more...
New version of R package ‘synthpop’ now available
A new version of the R package ‘synthpop’ (1.1-0) – developed by the SLS-DSU team for generating synthetic versions of sensitive microdata for statistical disclosure control – is now available on CRAN. There have been a few improvements and bug fixes which are described in the NEWS file. Please note that... Read more...
Latest news on the online data dictionary
We hope you are finding the new joint online data dictionary useful! Feedback so far has been extremely positive, which we are delighted to hear. Within the next 1-2 months we hope to have more updates to the system for you. The latest version of the ONS LS data dictionary... Read more...
Updated SLS step-by-step guide
Researchers planning to use the SLS for their projects are asked to note that a new Disclosure Control Protocol has now been released. The list of SHIP-approved training courses has also been updated. View the step-by-step guide for details. Read more...
ONS Consultation on Approved Researcher Status
ONS are reviewing the criteria and process used to grant Approved Researcher status, and the safeguards used to ensure the confidentiality of all personal data held by ONS, and are proposing a number of possible changes, which would address issues already identified. Make your views heard by visiting the consultation... Read more...
First CALLS Hub Research Brief now available! Inter-cohort Trends in Intergenerational Mobility
The first CALLS Hub research brief is now available! Franz Buscha and Patrick Sturgis share the findings of their work on inter-cohort trends in intergenerational mobility using the full 40 year power of the ONS LS. “In contrast to the near universal consensus amongst politicians and social commentators that social... Read more...
First SLS-DSU Newsletter now available
The first issue of the SLS-DSU Newsletter is now available to download. Includes information about new projects, data linkage updates and information for applying to use new 2011 Census data in your SLS research. Read more...
Slides now available from SLS Linkage Launch
Slides from the very successful SLS Census linkage launch event are now available to download from the CALLS Hub Research Blog. We hope to add audio slideshows of the talks in the near future – watch this space, or follow SLS-DSU on Twitter to find out more Read more...
New SLS Approved Researcher Status
All new researchers are now required to attain Approved Researcher status by completing the SLS Approved Researcher Application Form (Word 224KB). Researchers using NHS health data are also required to complete Safe Researcher Training – see the step-by-step guide for more information. Read more...
New form for existing SLS researchers wishing to use 2011 data
As of 4th November 2014, the linked 2011 Census data are now available for research use. Any current researchers who wish to extend their SLS project may use the new shorter SLS extension form (Word 147KB). This cut-down form is only applicable if the research question and type of variables... Read more...
LSCS announce release of synthetic data creation package ‘synthpop’
Longitudinal Studies Centre Scotland (LSCS) are pleased to announce the release of the first version of the R package ‘synthpop’ for generating synthetic versions of sensitive microdata for statistical disclosure control. The package and a vignette with a worked example are available from the CRAN at http://cran.r-project.org/package=synthpop. The ‘synthpop’ package is under continual... Read more...
Census Research User Conference 2014 – call for papers
The UK Data Service are currently calling for papers from researchers based on analysis of 2011 and earlier census products including the UK LSs. We would encourage all users of the ONS LS, NILS and SLS to consider taking part. Details of last year’s conference including downloadable presentations are available. Offers of a... Read more...
UK Longitudinal Study Unit Directors welcome Census 2021 announcement (Press Release)
Directors of the Support Units of the three UK Census-based Longitudinal Studies have welcomed Thursday’s announcements from the Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland recommending a predominantly online census in 2021, supplemented by the further use of administrative and survey data. Read more...
New email addresses – LSCS and SLS-DSU
Contact details for the Longitudinal Studies Centre Scotland (LSCS) and Scottish Longitudinal Study Development Support Unit (SLS-DSU) have now changed! In addition to online contact forms on the SLS and new LSCS sites, new email addresses have been set up: sls@lscs.ac.uk – for all SLS-specific contact info@lscs.ac.uk – for information about the LSCS and... Read more...
Speakers announced for UK LS 2011 Census Linkage Launch
Announcing the list of speakers for the Census 2011 launch event, to be held on Thursday 6th March 2014 at Church House, London. Featuring talks by ONS LS and NILS beta-testers. Read more...
NILS-RSU announces linkage of 2011 Census data
NILS-RSU have now announced their Census 2011 data linkage following completion of the Beta-testing process. Those interested in using the new data should visit the NILS-RSU website for more detail, including a new Application Form. Further documentation is available to download: Updated NILS Data Dictionary (ZIP 1MB of Access file 9.8MB) Information on NILS metadata (Word... Read more...
UK LS 2011 Census Linkage Launch Event, 6th March 2014
We are pleased to announce that a launch event to mark the linkage of 2011 Census data to the LSs will be held on Thursday 6th March 2014 at Church House, London. This afternoon event will include key talks by Prof Chris Dibben, Director of the Longitudinal Studies Centre Scotland,... Read more...
ONS LS announces Census 2011 data linkage
The 2011 Census data has been linked in to the ONS LS and Beta Testing is almost complete. Subject to a successful finish, it is likely that the new dataset will be available to researchers from 25th November. A provisional, revised, Data Dictionary is available for download in zipped form. (Microsoft Access required)... Read more...
New CALLS blog post about BSPS 2013
Kevin Ralston of the SLS-DSU has written a blog entry about his impressions of BSPS 2013 which took place earlier this month at the University of Swansea. Read Kevin’s blog post here. Read more...
New Technical Working Paper details linkages to Education data in the Scottish Longitudinal Study
A new Technical Working Paper is now available, detailing the new Scottish Longitudinal Study linkage to Education Data from ScotXed. The data consist of records from the School Census which is carried out in September every year, along with data on attendance and exclusions, including detailed reasons for the exclusions. Attainment... Read more...
NILS-RSU announces two PhD studentships
Two fully-funded PhD studentships are to be offered by QUB as part of the successful application to the ESRC to fund the Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study Research Support Unit (NILS-RSU) from 2012 to 2017. These will be focused around the general theme of ‘Northern Ireland in Transition 1991-2011’. This is... Read more...
Detailed weather and pollution data now held in SLS dataset
The Longitudinal Studies Centre Scotland have recently successfully integrated detailed weather and pollution data into the SLS dataset. Detailed pollution data at 1x1km grid squares for the whole of Scotland is available with annual average concentrations going back up to 19 years. Weather data – with monthly averaged data for... Read more...
Geographies and ecological variables in the Scottish Longitudinal Study (SLS) – new working paper
A new Technical Working Paper for the SLS has just been published, discussing the different levels of geographies available in the study. Geographical data are an integral part of the SLS, with the data coded onto a number of different geographies including census, health and other administrative areas at a... Read more...
