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New data added to CLOSER’s Discovery research tool

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A person using a mouse and computerResearchers can now search and explore new data in CLOSER Discovery—the UK’s most comprehensive research tool for longitudinal population studies—with the addition of 7,596 variables and 6,235 questions.

This latest update to CLOSER Discovery:

  • Completes the dataset metadata for the Southampton Women’s Survey (SWS) up to the 11-year follow-up and COVID-19;
  • Provides metadata for the National Child Development Study (NCDS) main data collections 1958-2021;
  • Adds phase 10 of the Wirral Child Health and Development Study (WCHADS).

Southampton Women’s Survey

The latest inclusion of additional data collections from SWS means researchers can now discover all available SWS dataset metadata up to the 11-year follow-up and COVID-19 questionnaires.

Set up in 1998, SWS is the only birth cohort study in Europe in which the mothers were recruited (12,583 in total) before conception of the child. It aims to assess the influence of maternal dietary, lifestyle, intrauterine, genetic and epigenetic factors on the participant children’s health and development, and on the health of the mothers themselves.

National Child Development Study

The latest content update from the NCDS provides access to all dataset metadata for the NCDS main data collections from 1958 to 2021, alongside all three CLS COVID questionnaires and datasets.

The NCDS follows the lives of 17,415 people born in England, Scotland and Wales in a single week of 1958. With six decades of follow-up surveys, the study has collected a wealth of information on a range of topics, including physical health, health behaviours, education, and COVID-19 and mental health.

Wirral Child Health and Development Study

WCHADS (known as The First Steps Study by its participants) was set up in 2006 and follows the lives of more than 1,000 children growing up in the Wirral in North West England to explore why some children develop behavioural problems from an early age and which factors lead to those issues persisting.

Topics covered in WCHADS include social media use; friendships, bullying and isolation; physical activity levels and physical development; risky behaviours and physical and psychological changes associated with puberty.

Start your search today!

CLOSER Discovery—the UK’s most comprehensive research tool for longitudinal population studies— provides a single point of entry to rich questionnaire and dataset metadata. This free-to-access research tool enables researchers and data managers at all stages of the research process to search, explore and assess longitudinal population study data.

We’ve produced a set of guides to help new users navigate their way through CLOSER Discovery – check out our How-to guides which include two short videos on how to search CLOSER Discovery and how to explore CLOSER Discovery.

If you would like to know more, our latest webinar which demonstrates how to get the most out of CLOSER Discovery video.

Help improve CLOSER Discovery

CLOSER Discovery relies on feedback from users to improve its functionality and utility. If you notice errors, experience problems, or have suggestions for useful features, please complete our feedback form.

Further information