Trust, security and public interest: striking the balance A narrative review of previous literature on public attitudes towards the sharing, linking and use of administrative data for research.

Elizabeth Waind

doi:10.23889/ijpds.v5i3.1368

Elizabeth Waind

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.23889/ijpds.v5i3.1368

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Abstract

This narrative literature review explores previous findings in relation to the UK public’s attitudes towards the sharing, linking and use of public sector administrative data for research. A total of 16 papers are included in the review, for which data was collected between the years 2006-2018.The review finds, on the basis of previous literature on the topic, that the public is broadly supportive of administrative data research if three core conditions are met: public interest, privacy and security, and trust and transparency. None of these conditions is sufficient in isolation; the literature shows public support is underpinned by fulfillment of all three. However, it also shows that in certain cases where the standard of one condition is very high – particularly public interest – this could mean the standard of another may, if necessary, be lower. An appropriate balance must be struck, and the proposed benefits of sharing and using data for research must outweigh the potential risks. Broad, conditional support for the use of administrative data in research has not only been found consistently, but has also been held over time.Most studies identified by this review have focused on exploring the views of the general public towards the acceptability of administrative data use in broad terms. However, with the exception of that related to healthcare data, the review identified little work focused on gaining input from relevant demographics and communities in relation to specific data types or areas of research. In addition to fulfilling the core conditions of public support identified by broader work, initiatives making use of administrative data should aim to seek the views of relevant sub-sectors of the public in the development of research in relation to specific issues.

Highlights

Keywords literature review; review; public attitudes; public views; administrative data; administrative data research; data sharing; public engagement; public involvement; public opinion; public sector data; data linking; data use Public sector administrative data – information originally created for operational purposes when people interact with public services such as schools and hospitals – is a valuable resource for research
The UK government’s 2017 Digital Economy Act [2] provides the legal framework for public authorities to share administrative data for research under Section 64 – ‘Disclosure of information research for purposes’. This allows investments such as ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK) – a programme funded by the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) with a mission to enable secure access to linked UK public sector administrative data for approved researchers working on projects in the public interest – to operate [3]
This review is primarily intended as a source of information for those handling and using public sector data for research, to enable them to operate in a way in which the public find acceptable

Summary

Introduction

Public sector administrative data – information originally created for operational purposes when people interact with public services such as schools and hospitals – is a valuable resource for research. In the UK, administrative data is a largely untapped resource, with government departments and public bodies not routinely sharing their data with one another or academic researchers [1] This is a missed opportunity, as linking data from across different areas of the public sector and making it available for research can provide valuable insights into how different services interact with one another, and how a person’s experiences in one area of life may influence. The UK government’s 2017 Digital Economy Act [2] provides the legal framework for public authorities to share administrative data for research under Section 64 – ‘Disclosure of information research for purposes’ This allows investments such as ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK) – a programme funded by the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) with a mission to enable secure access to linked UK public sector administrative data for approved researchers working on projects in the public interest – to operate [3]. Care.data is a prime example of the necessity of public support for initiatives which aim to make use of public sector administrative data

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Conflicts of interest