The UK Longitudinal Studies Centre (ULSC) was established by the Economic and Social Research Council in 1999 and is the national resource centre for promoting longitudinal research and for the design, management and support of longitudinal surveys.
Its goal is to ensure the collection of longitudinal data of the highest quality to meet UK social research needs and to promote its widest and most effective use. In achieving this the centre makes a major contribution to the UK’s unique portfolio of longitudinal studies and to the advances they help us make in advancing the social sciences and in understanding society.
Centre aims
- Promote the use of the rich portfolio of longitudinal data sets in the UK
- Support users of those data through the provision of advice, information, training in longitudinal analysis and the provision of resources to make data easier to use
- Improve longitudinal survey methods, carry out methodological research and promote best practice in the production of high quality data for users
Centre activities
- Collection of the British Household Panel Survey
- Design, management and collection of Understanding Society
- Provision of services in the design and management of longitudinal survey research
- Methodological Research Programme to improve longitudinal survey and analysis methods, and to disseminate results
- Promotion of the application of research methods appropriate for the analysis of longitudinal survey data through provision of training and resources
- Development of Data and Research Resources to enable easier access to longitudinal data, information and advice
The Centre works closely with the Economic and Social Research Council, other research councils, government and other UK longitudinal studies in developing a National Strategy for Longitudinal Studies, through a National Longitudinal Strategy Committee.