Usage of the FACS datasets

This page contains information from users who have downloaded the FACS data and who have agreed to have their project information shared. Users can opt to be included or to amend the details held for them by changing their project registration details.

• Dynamics of child support – Professor Stephen McKay (University of Birmingham – Social Policy). July 2011

  An analysis of how child support (child maintenance) receipt changes over time. In particular, how the balance changes between formal and informal support from the absent parents. Also, to look at the effects on children of different trajectories of child support.
  Other surveys used: MCS GUS USOC NON RESIDENT FATHERS; 1996.

• Lone mothers then and now – Ms Tina Haux (University of Essex – ISER). April 2011

  Analysing Marsden's study of lone parents in the 1960s to explore the understanding lone parents had of themselves in terms of their roles as parents; workers and members of an extended and disjointed family and to compare that to their understanding today
  Other surveys used: LFS.

• Learning Disabilities Public Health Observatory – Professor Eric Emerson (Lancaster University – Institute for Health Research). April 2011

  The Department of Health has commissioned a Learning Disabilities Public Health Observatory for England. The aim of the observatory is to provide information that will help improve the commissioning of health and social care services for children and adults with learning disabilities. One of our tasks is to determine what information can be extracted from major surveys that may be of value in supporting the work of the PHO.
  Other surveys used: MCS LOS CARERS.

• Lone parents and welfare reform – Ms Tina Haux (University of Essex – ISER). March 2011

  The new waves of FACS (2006 to 2008) will be used to update my previous work on lone parents and welfare reform. In addition; I would like include the new questions that have been added to FACS in my analysis of work orientation of lone parents over time.

• Are parents happier than other couples – Mr Paul Wartena. February 2011

  Though I didn't find much data on the life-satisfaction of the parents; there were data on the happiness of children. I'd like to research if children are happier with a mother who doesn't work than children with a mother who does so. This is part of a study of the happiness of parenthood.

• Investigation of low earners – Mr Matthew Whittaker. February 2011

  Wish to use the BHPS to consider changes in the condition of 'low earners' over time. The Resolution Foundation is an independent registered charity which conducts research on members of income deciles 3-5.
  Other surveys used: BHPS BCS70 NCDS LSYPE.

• Supporting data for DWP LPO quantitaitve survey – Mr Nick Coleman. September 2010

  I am currently contracted by DWP to manage and report on the quantitative survey of Lone Parent Obligations. Analysis of wave 1 data is taking place between September and December. In order to place the findings in context; analysis of other survey findings; including BHPS (specifically sub-group analysis of lone parents) is being undertaken.
  Other surveys used: LOS.

• History of childhood in the twentieth century – Ms Fran Abrams. May 2010

  I am gathering information for a history of childhood during the 20th Century; to be published in 2011 by Atlantic Books. In particular I am interested in information about children and work since World War Two - what are the trends with regard to paid work by children in the UK?
  Other surveys used: LFS.

• Research into lone parenthood – Ms Victoria Peacey. January 2010

  Gingerbread is the charity working for and with single parents in the UK. We conduct new research and secondary analysis of existing data to learn more about lone parenthood in the UK and to inform our policy work.
  Other surveys used: EFS.

• Work, income and health among lone parents – Dr Marcia Gibson (University of Glasgow – SPHSU). November 2009

  This study will investigate connections between work, income and health for lone parents over time, including questions such as: What is the impact of non/employment on lone parents and their children when factors such as income, occupation, numbers of hours worked and education are controlled for?

• Deloping an index of social inclusion – Ms Sally Philpin (Swansea University – Human Sciences). October 2009

  Professor Peter Huxley and The Centre for Social Work and Social Care Work Research, Swansea University have been awarded a grant from DOH HTA to develop a social inclusion index for use in the general population and with people with mental health problems. Require data from the survey to compare with findings from own survey.
  Other surveys used: BHPS.

• Scottish Alcohol Model – Dr Petra Meier (University of Sheffield – ScHARR). September 2009

  We are modelling of the effect of alcohol policies on health, crime and employment outcomes in Scotland for the Scottish Government. For this we need detailed Scotland specific alcohol consumption data by age and gender.
  Other surveys used: SHES Omnibus GHS ELSA LSYPE BCS.

• NGOs in Britain Project – Dr Jean-Francois Mouhot (University of Birmingham – History). June 2009

  The data will be used within the context of our project NGOs in Britain 1945-1997 based at the University of Birmingham http://www.ngo.bham.ac.uk/
  Other surveys used: BHPS ELSA BSA.

• New family structures – Professor Stephen McKay (University of Birmingham – Social Policy). March 2009

  An analysis of large-scale data to look at changes in family structures, and to compare with findings from the past. Key topics are lone parents, including lone fathers, and the effects of birth-spacing on employment (and potentially other outcomes).
  Other surveys used: APS SCS BHPS LFS FRS BCS BSA HBAI MCS .

• Familirization with the FACS data – Mr Ioannis Patmanidis (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) – Department For Work and Pensions). February 2009

  An a new member within the Strategy Unit of the DWP my line manager asked me if I can familirize myself with the FACS data and become the "expert" of this survey in our team. The main reason for this is that our director frequently has querries about old surveys/secondary data but also about social/economic trends and we have to provide a quick response. The purpose of this data usage is completely non-profit and it is done mainly for documentation.

• SHMA income – Mr David George. November 2008

  Hi4em is funded by the East Midlands Regional Assembly and is researching data related to the income levels of unsuitably houses households for use in Strategic Housing Market Area assessments as per CLG guidance.

• Econometric and other analysis – Mr GIOVANNI RAZZU (University of London School of Economics – Social policy). October 2008

  Mostly econometric analysis to decompose poverty reduction into growth and inequality components following tradironal approached, e.g. world bank and ravalion. This could inform policy to address inequality. Need to look at different datasets to understand what equality information they contain, in terms of strands, e.g. gender, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age etc and various dimensions, such as health, education, income, social life etc.
  Other surveys used: FRS SEH GHS NTS BSA LFS APS BCS HBAI.

• Regional differences in cohabiting, diet and health – Dr Seraphim Alvanides (Newcastle University – Geography, Politics & Sociology). October 2008

  Recent research concluded that women eat more unhealthy foods and tend to put on weight when they move in with a male partner. The research, a literature review published in the health professional title Complete Nutrition, highlighted major health issues that couples need to address as a team early on in their relationship. This project will provide further evidence, while controlling for other factors such as exercise, childbirth and regional differences.
  Other surveys used: BHPS HSE.

• Development of Model – Mr Paul Sharpe (The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) – Department of Work and Pensions). September 2008

  The FACS data wiil be used by the Child Support Agency in a predictive model to forecast the amount of cases in the Statutory maintenance service and other maintenance arrangements, in particular the movement between different forms of Child Maintenance Collection.
  Other surveys used: LFS FRS.

• Validating measure of free school meals against household income – Professor Ian Plewis (University of Manchester – CCSR). June 2008

  Are changes in free school meals status (claiming or not) related to changes in household income over waves 4 to 7 of FACS? This will inform an analysis of the value of using the national Pupil Database to examine changes in family circumstances.

• Ethnic differences in patterns of employment and unemployment. – Professor Angela Dale (University of Manchester – CCSR). March 2008

  The extent of cohort changes in employment for ethnic women. Differences in employment participation by qualifications and prescence of children. Relationship between qualifications, unemployment and underemployment for different ethnic groups.
  Other surveys used: LFS HSE APS BHPS EFS.

• Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Intellectual Disability – Dr Vasiliki Totsika (Bangor University – Psychology). February 2008

  We are interested in exploring the characteristics of children and adolescents with a diagnosis of ASD. We will compare participants with an ASD diagnosis with participants with an intellectual disability, using the intellectual disability composite measure developed by Prof. Eric Emerson.
  Other surveys used: LSYPE NCDS MCS.

• Mothers in Low Skilled Work – Dr Kitty Stewart (University of London School of Economics – CASE). January 2008

  This project explores wage and employment trajectories for mothers returning to work in low-skilled jobs. It asks how far women progress up the skills and earnings ladder, and looks at the factors that help them to do so.

• Capability approach/Well-being – Mr Lucas Pedace. November 2007

  Phipps (2002) developed an alternative framework to measure children's well being employing Sen's functioning approach (1992). We want to further develop and employ this approach to compare family well-being in the UK . Ref: Phipps, Shelley 2002. The well being of young Canadian children: a functionings approach. Review of Income and Wealth 48, 493-515 Sen, A. Inequality Re-Examined. Calderon Press, Oxford. 1992.
  Other surveys used: BHPS.

• Grandparent caring – Professor Bob Broad (De Montfort University – Health and life sciences). June 2007

  I am seeking to collect information about grandparent caring to inform my teaching and research about kinship care in the UK. This information will provide the context within which grandparent care is located.
  Other surveys used: Omnibus BSA MCS.

• Community Paediatrics – Dr Veena Maharaj (Central Derby PCT – Specialist Children's Services). February 2007

  Comparison data for evaluation of the community paediatric service in Derby. This is a small local health service evaluation with no funding.

• GeNet project 5: WHIPP – Mr Jerome De Henau (Open University, The – Economics). January 2007

  We analyse the determinants and the distribution of intra-household financial inequalities in the UK, with a focus on tax-benefits. We need the data to build an indicator of financial autonomy and analyse the dynamics within the household alongside usual socio-economic controls. The project is part of the Gender Equality Network, funded by the ESRC, and supervised by Holly Sutherland, Fran Bennett and Susan Himmelweit.
  Other surveys used: FRS GHS TimeUse LFS Omnibus BHPS ELSA.

• Scoping childhood disability datasets – Professor Nick Spencer (University of Warwick – School of Health and Social Studies). October 2006

  The aim of this ESRC funded study is to scope national datasets with information on childhood disability and longstanding illness
  Other surveys used: MCS.

• Material deprivation for parents and children on maximum benefits – Dr Kitty Stewart (University of London School of Economics – STICERD). July 2006

  I am carrying out some advisory work for Save the Children. I want to provide them with summary statistics from the FACS survey for the share of families on benefits who say they cannot afford particular items. These figures have been published in the past but I can't find them beyond 2002 in the form I want them in so I would like to calculate some tables myself.

• Child disability in FACS – Professor Eric Emerson (Lancaster University – Institute for Health Research). July 2006

  Preliminary analyses prior to application for external funding to examine interface between aspects of socio-economic position and child disability in the FACS. Primary concerns: (1) description of the social patterning of child disability; (2) impact of SEP on maternal well-being among families suporting a disabled child; (3) poverty dynamics and child disability

• Mothers' employment and childcare choices – Miss Yekaterina Chzhen (Loughborough University – Social Sciences). June 2006

  Waves 4, 5, and 6 of FACS will be used for research on the determinants of mother's employment in Britain and their childcare use. Findings will be presented at a conference held by the Centre for Social Policy Research, Loughborough University, with subsequent publication in a conference paper.

• Understanding the Transformation of the Prospects of Place – Dr Eldin Fahmy (University of Bristol – School for Policy Studies). May 2006

  This project, funded by Joseph Rowntree Foundation, seeks to develop a longitudinally consistent approach to understanding the changing geography of poverty and affluence in Britain in the period 1968-2004. The research involves extensive quantitative analysis of large-scale surveys of poverty and wealth in Britain in order to derive synthetic models that can then be applied to census small area statistics for the purposes of geospatial analysis. These sources include a series of nationally representative poverty surveys conducted in 1968-9, 1981, 1990, and 1999, and Family Expenditure Survey data for the period 1968-2001.
  Other surveys used: FES EFS LFS GHS FRS TimeUse APS BHPS BCS70 ELSA .

• Socio-economic position and child disability – Professor Eric Emerson (Lancaster University – Institute for Health Research). September 2005

  Secondary analysis of multiple data sets to explore the relationship between socio-economic position and the prevalence and nature of child disability

• Evaluating the Impact of 'Valuing People' – Professor Eric Emerson (Lancaster University – Institute for Health Research). March 2004

  Aim: To develop a comprehensive set of performance indicators that can be used to evlaute the impact of current health and social care policies for people with learning disabilities.
  Other surveys used: LFS Omnibus HSE TimeUse GHS FRS BCS BHPS NCDS MCS BCS70.