Survey of New Refugees, 2005-2009

UKDA study number:6556

Principal Investigator

Home Office. UK Border Agency. Analysis, Research and Knowledge Management

Sponsor

Home Office. UK Border Agency. Analysis, Research and Knowledge Management

Distributed by

UK Data Archive, University of Essex, Colchester.

September 2010

Bibliographic Citation

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Home Office. UK Border Agency. Analysis, Research and Knowledge Management, Survey of New Refugees, 2005-2009 [computer file]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Archive [distributor], September 2010. SN: 6556, http://dx.doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-6556-1.

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Copyright:
Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen’s Printer for Scotland

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6556 . Survey of New Refugees, 2005-2009
(SNR)

Depositor:

Home Office. UK Border Agency. Analysis, Research and Knowledge Management

Principal Investigator:

Home Office. UK Border Agency. Analysis, Research and Knowledge Management

Sponsor:

Home Office. UK Border Agency. Analysis, Research and Knowledge Management

Other Acknowledgements:

Matrix Knowledge Group (questionnaire distribution, keying and coding);
NLightN (keying and coding);
National Recognition Information Centre (translation of international qualifications into UK equivalents);
National Centre for Social Research (weighting and longitudinal data analysis).

Abstract:

The Analysis, Research and Knowledge Management section (ARK) within the UK Border Agency commissioned the Survey of New Refugees to provide a longitudinal study of refugee integration in the UK. The overall aim of the survey was two-fold: (i) to collect information on the characteristics of new refugees at the time of their asylum decision; and (ii) to provide data on the integration of new refugees in the UK over time.

A postal baseline questionnaire was sent to all new refugees who were granted a positive decision of asylum, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave to remain between 1 December 2005 and 25 March 2007. Three follow-up questionnaires were issued 8, 15 and 21 months later. The baseline questionnaire collected information on the characteristics of refugees at the time of their asylum decision, including their previous education and employment, English language ability, physical and emotional health, and their social support and service needs. Three follow-up questionnaires were used to collect information on how these refugees integrated in the UK over 21 months. Integration was considered in terms of the English language skills, employment and housing of new refugees, and how these changed over time. Over 900 refugees provided information at all four sweeps. The findings of this research have been published in two Home Office Research Reports (Nos. 36 and 37) and one Summary Report (No.35), all included in the study documentation. A further Research Report (No.43), The Migrant Journey, is also available (see Publications section for references and links).

Main Topics:

The data file contains information from all four sweeps of the survey: baseline, 8 months, 15 months and 21 months. Details include the characteristics of refugees at the time of the asylum decision (baseline), such as their age, country of origin, English language ability, education and employment history, health and support needs. Data from the follow-up sweeps provide detailed information on the experience of new refugees in the UK, including their housing, employment and changes in English language ability. The dataset includes cross-sectional and longitudinal weights which should be applied during analysis (details provided in the accompanying technical notes).

Coverage:

Dates of Fieldwork: The complete survey ran between December 2005 and March 2009.
Baseline (Sweep 1): December 2005 – March 2007; questionnaire issued 1 week after processing of asylum decision.
Sweep 2: 8 months after the asylum decision.
Sweep 3: 15 months after the asylum decision.
Sweep 4: 21 months after the asylum decision.
Country: United Kingdom
Spatial Units: UK Border Agency regions
Observation Units: Individuals
Kind of Data: Numeric data; Individual (micro) level

Universe Sampled:

Location of Units of Observation: National
Population: Individual refugees: people aged 18 and over who were granted asylum, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave to remain in the UK between 1 December 2005 and 25 March 2007.

Methodology:

Time Dimensions: Longitudinal/panel/cohort
Respondents were surveyed four times in total: one baseline questionnaire and three follow-ups.
Sampling Procedures: No sampling (total universe)
The questionnaire was sent to all new refugees who entered the UK between December 2005 and March 2007.
Number of Units: 5,678 new refugees participated in the first sweep of the survey, decreasing to 939 respondents in the fourth sweep.
Method of Data Collection: Postal survey
Weighting: Cross-sectional and longitudinal weights are included in the file; see documentation for details.

Language(s) of Written Materials:

Study Description: English
Study Documentation: English

Access:

Access Conditions: The depositor has specified that registration is required. Available to all registered users. The depositor may be informed about usage.
Availability: ESDS Access and Preservation, UK Data Archive
Contact: Help desk: help@esds.ac.uk

Date of First Release:

30 September 2010

Copyright:

Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen’s Printer for Scotland

File last updated:

31 October 2011