LNiK - the Northern Ireland Administrative Data Research Centre

通过更好地利用现有数据并将不同的数据集连接在一起，可以更好地了解我们的社会。这可以在英国更广泛地进行，就像在欧洲其他地区，如斯堪的纳维亚半岛一样。使用现有数据不仅比收集新数据效率高、成本低，而且还可以提供一种强有力的手段，更好地了解社会如何运作以及需要采取什么行动来解决广泛的社会问题，从而指导政策的制定、执行和评价。要做到这一点，就必须确保公众对其数据得到适当使用有最大的信心，并确保这些数据的保护符合最高的国际标准，为此，联合王国四个国家都设立了四个行政数据研究中心，负责协调和进行记录联系。在北方爱尔兰，两所大学和NISRA（当地政府统计机构）将共同促进和便利这里的记录联系。这将有两个方面;一个独立的机构（受信任的第三方），用于链接不同的数据集和一个单独的安全环境（NI-ADRC），用于进行数据分析。记录链接的过程确保（i）受信任的第三方永远不会看到关于个人的管理信息，以及（ii）ADRC永远不会看到个人信息，例如姓名或地址。所有这些过程都将由联合王国管理委员会监督，该委员会可能通过联合王国统计局向议会报告。公众将在各级都有代表。行政数据处将协调发展成果中心的活动，并为查询和信息提供单一的信息来源。NI-ADRC将由一名学术主任领导; NISRA将提供安全的环境，并通过对所有数据访问和处理的全面审计来监督其运作。他们还将操作可信的第三方链接。NI-ADRC将聘请两名经验丰富的学者为这些数据的用户提供协助和技术支持，这些用户将接受认证培训，并仅在安全的环境中访问匿名数据;所有统计和书面输出在发布前将进一步审查。NI-ADRCT的一项主要任务是提高公众对安全链接行政记录的认识和信心，因此将任命一名高级公众参与和通信干事。NI-ADRC还将提高学术界、数据保管人和政府机构之间记录链接的潜力和好处。国家信息机构-数据中心的成立应使政府和其他机构行政数据的产生者和保管者、这些数据的潜在使用者以及应受益于对这些相关数据的分析的决策者之间建立更密切的工作关系;这种相互关系将通过一系列研讨会和会议以及其他互动和交流的机会得到加强。将开始巩固与各数据保管人和政府机构的关系，并（i）对目前可供链接的数据进行编目（ii）与ADS谈判元数据的制作以及非正式咨询和支持，这对于理解数据背后的过程和数据库结构至关重要，以及（iii）在较长的时期内，增加可用于北爱尔兰和更广泛的联合王国范围内的联系的数据集的范围和数量，并鼓励通过授权立法。从一开始，与其他ADRC和ADS以及对类似数据集和/或方法学方法感兴趣的英国团体建立关系和联合战略将是一个主要优先事项。

There is great potential for understanding more about our society by making better use of data that already exists and by linking different datasets together. This could be undertaken more widely in the UK as in other parts of Europe such as Scandinavia. Using existing data is not only efficient and cheaper than collecting new data, but it can also provide a powerful means of better understanding how society works and what action is needed to tackle a wide range of social issues, thereby guiding the development, implementation and evaluation of policy. This can be achieved in a way that ensures that the public have the maximum confidence that their data are being used appropriately and that the safeguards of these data meet the highest international standards.To this end, four Administrative Data Research Centres- ARDC for coordinating and undertaking record linkage are being setup in each of the four countries of the UK. In Northern Ireland the two universities and NISRA, the local governmental statistics agency, will come together to promote and facilitate record linkage here. This will have two aspects; an independent body (trusted third party) for linking different datasets and a separate secure environment (the NI-ADRC) for undertaking analyses of the data. The process of record linkage ensures that (i) the trusted third party never see the administrative information about individuals and (ii) that the ADRC never have sight of personal information such as names or addresses. All of these processes will be overseen by a UK Governing Board who report to Parliament, probably via the UK Statistics Authority. The public will be represented at all levels. An Administrative Data Service will coordinate ADRCs activities and provide a single source of information for enquiries and information. The NI-ADRC will be led by an academic Director; NISRA will provide the secure environment and oversee its operation with full auditing of all data access and processing. They will also operate the trusted third party linkage. The NI-ADRC will employ two experienced academics to provide assistance and technical support to users of these data who will have undergone accreditation training and access the anonymous data only in a secure environment; all statistical and written outputs will be further scrutinised before release. A major task for the NI- ADRCT will be to increase the public awareness of and confidence in the safe linking of administrative records and will therefore appoint a senior Public Engagement and Communications Officer. The NI- ADRC will also raise the potential for and benefits of record linkage amongst the academic fraternity, data custodians and Government Agencies. The formation of NI-ADRC should bring about a closer working relationship between the generators and custodians of administrative data in governmental and other agencies, the potential users of these data, and the policy makers who should benefit from the analyses of these linked data; this interrelationship will be underpinned by a series of seminars and meetings and other opportunities for interaction and exchange.Early in the first year the ADRC will start to cement relationships with the various data custodians and governmental agencies and (i) catalogue what data is currently available for linkage (ii) negotiate, with the ADS, the production of the metadata and the informal advice and support that will be essential for understanding the processes behind the data and of the database structures, and (iii) over a longer period increase the range and number of datasets available for linkage within NI and the wider UK context, and to encourage the passage of enabling legislation. Building relationships and joint strategies with the other ADRCs and the ADS, and with UK groups with interests in similar datasets and/or methodological approaches will be a major priority from the outset.