Introduction to the 1958 National Child Development Study

This event will describe the study's aims, content and design as well as offering a helpful look at some of the types of research that can be undertaken using the study. This will be followed by a Q&A session with the panel of speakers and experts.

This webinar is aimed at new users of the 1958 National Child Development Study (NCDS), in particular, but not exclusively, researchers who are interested in ageing; physical and mental health; families and relationships; education and cognition; labour markets and social mobility from early life to late midlife. It aims to guide you through the process of accessing and making effective use of the data for your own research projects.

NCDS follows the lives of over 17,000 people born across England, Scotland, and Wales in a single week of 1958. Survey data are currently available from birth to age 55 years, along with linked administrative health and geographical data, combined with biomedical, genetic, COVID-19 and other innovative data.

The data include multiple measures of the cohort members’ physical, socio-emotional, cognitive and behavioural development over time, as well as detailed information on their daily life, attitudes and experiences. Alongside this, rich information on employment, economic circumstances, parenting, relationships and family life is available. 

Speakers

Presenters 

• Vanessa Moulton - Senior Research Associate, Centre for Longitudinal Studies
• Morag Henderson, Associate Professor in Sociology, Centre for Longitudinal Studies

NCDS experts

• George B Ploubidis - PI of 1958 National Child Development Study
• Matt Brown - Senior Survey Manager
• Carole Sanchez - NCDS Survey Manager
• Brian Dodgeon - Research Fellow

This event will be particularly useful for researchers, policy makers and the third sector.

Related links

• Social Research Institute
• Centre for Longitundinal Studies