CLS celebrates its first anniversary as an ESRC Resource Centre

CLS is celebrating its first anniversary as a Resource Centre of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). In October 2004, the ESRC’s decision to fund CLS gave the data collection of the 1958, 1970 and Millennium cohort studies an assured future and recognised their value to the research, educational and policy communities in the UK and abroad.

CLS is celebrating its first anniversary as a Resource Centre of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). In October 2004, the ESRC’s decision to fund CLS gave the data collection of the 1958, 1970 and Millennium cohort studies an assured future and recognised their value to the research, educational and policy communities in the UK and abroad.

As CLS celebrates its first birthday, we take a look back at some of the centre’s achievements over the past year.

October 2004
Members of the 1958 and 1970 cohorts are sent the magazine, Changing Britain, changing lives, summarising how their lives have changed since the studies began. Cohort member communications.

CLS welcomes two doctoral students under the ESRC Research Centres Linked Studentship scheme.

November 2004
Data from the biomedical survey of the 1958 cohort is released to collaborating researchers allowing them to address a range of hypotheses relating to key health issues.

CLS holds a workshop introducing new and potential users to the Millennium Cohort Study dataset.

December 2004
A meeting is held for users of the 1958 and 1970 cohort datasets to discuss developments in the data collection and plans for the future.

April 2005
The completion of fieldwork on the second survey of the Millennium Cohort Study, as its members reach 3 years old, sees the study become a longitudinal dataset. Data will be deposited at the UK Data Archive in spring 2006.

CLS holds a workshop to introduce new users to the data in the 1958 and 1970 cohort datasets.

May 2005
Fieldwork finishes on the follow-up survey of the 1970 cohort. The core survey (involving all cohort members) included interviews to gather social, health and economic information; self-completion questionnaires on attitudes, family life, drinking, skills, well-being and crime; and adult assessments of basic skills. In addition, the children of a one-in-two sample were asked to complete a number of cognitive assessments similar to those completed by their cohort parent in their youth. Data will be deposited in the UK Data Archive early in 2006.

June 2005
As part of the ESRC Social Science Week, CLS holds a successful forum with government researchers to discuss how the centre can provide an effective resource for UK government. A workshop introducing new and potential users to the Millennium Cohort Study dataset is also held.

CLS contributes the chapter ‘Anger, irritability and hostility in children and adults’ to the publication, Seven deadly sins: a new look at society through an old lens, the 2005 showcase of ESRC data investments.

The new CLS website is launched (www.cls.ioe.ac.uk). One of the key features of the new site is the searchable bibliographic database of publications using cohort data.

July 2005
The head teacher questionnaire from the 1986 survey of the 1970 cohort is deposited in the UK Data Archive. For the first time it is possible to identify the different schools (grammar schools, comprehensives, independent schools etc) attended by cohort members.

A workshop on using 1958 cohort data is held as part of the University of Essex’s annual summer school.

September 2005
Fieldwork finishes on the follow-up survey of the 1958 cohort. The survey, done by telephone interview, included questions on housing, partnerships, family life, employment, income, education, basic skills, health, crime and social participation. Data will be deposited in the UK Data Archive early in 2006.

CLS holds a workshop introducing new users to the 1958 and 1970 cohort datasets.

In addition to the above, over the last year findings from the cohort studies have generated media interest and received coverage in national and local press, on the television and on the radio – media coverage.

Latest news: October 2005
The dress rehearsal for the age 5 survey of the Millennium Cohort Study has just been completed. The fieldwork is due to begin in January 2006 in England and Wales, and April 2006 in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Children of the 21st century: from birth to nine months was published by The Policy Press.

The magazine The babies of the new millennium has been sent out to families of Millennium Cohort Study children summarising findings from the first survey, which was carried out when the babies were between nine and ten months old. Cohort member communications.

Three more research students have come to CLS to study under the ESRC Research Centres Linked Studentship scheme.