Investigating and addressing non-representativeness of Understanding Society longitudinal study data via multi-source record linkage

Medical Research Council (MRC) Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) Studentships

Positions are available in the College of Medical Veterinary, Medical and Life Sciences associated with MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit and MRC Centre for Virus Research. Our next intake will be for PhD projects commencing October 2017. The MRC DTP offers PhD with Integrated Study studentships funded by the MRC.

This DTP focuses on training PhD students in key MRC skills priorities in quantitative skills (mathematics, statistics, computation, and developing digital excellence) as applied to variety of data sources (from ‘omics’ to health records), and interdisciplinary skills including imaging and stratified medicine.

ALL PROJECTS CAN BE VIEWED HERE: http://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvls/graduateschool/mrcdtpstudentships2017/projects/ - NOTE: DETAIL WITHIN STEP 6 OF APPLICATION PROCESS THE SUPERVISOR AND PROJECT TITLE.

Supervisors
Dr Linsay Gray - [Email Address Removed]
Dr Frank Popham - [Email Address Removed]
Dr Michaela Benzeval - [Email Address Removed]

Abstract
This PhD offers the chance to enhance the value of longitudinal study data resources by harnessing record-linkage and furthering methodology for addressing non-participation. Longitudinal data on individuals participating in panel studies such as Understanding Society provide critical surveillance of population metrics and related determinants. However, incomplete participation at recruitment and subsequent waves threatens validity of estimates purporting to be representative of the target populace, with prime targets for precision medicine – such as high disease risk sub-groups – being disproportionately under-represented. Tailored bias-correction methodology using record-linkage and multiple imputation has previously been applied to cross-sectional survey data and this PhD would extend the methodology to panel studies. Understanding Society is an innovative world-leading study – the largest of its kind – providing valuable information about 21st century UK life over time by following the lives of individuals from 40,000 UK households. Record linkage of these data has begun at the individual level to other data sources including routinely collected health data. The PhD programme will involve customisation and application of the methodology for addressing non-participation across six waves of Understanding Society. There is potential for general application to other longitudinal study data in this era of declining participation.