PhD Student Blog post: Personal Learnings from the ADR UK PhD Annual Gathering – Lijie Zeng

Please tell us about your PhD project.

My PhD project aims to investigate the associations between disability within households and children’s educational attainment. It will use the Growing Up in England (GUIE) dataset, which links the 2011 UK Census with administrative data on highest education attainment and vulnerability characteristics across a longitudinal cohort of English children. It will also use the National Pupil Database (NPD) linked to the UK Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) to focus on disability at the parental level and its potential impact on children’s educational and psychosocial outcomes. My PhD project will provide insights into the educational progression of children exposed to household disability, identifying individual and contextual correlates, and exploring the potential risk and protective factors associated with latent attainment subgroups. Findings will contribute to informing policy and practices to better support this vulnerable population with complex needs.

What is your key takeaway from the ADR UK PhD Annual Gathering 2025?

One of my key takeaways is the realisation that social scientists working with administrative data need to embrace a threefold role: as researchers producing evidence-based insights; as collaborators engaging with the stakeholders, policymakers and the public; and as practitioners translating assessable findings into actionable practice. These roles collectively ensure that administrative data research remains grounded in real-world experiences, drives robust impact, and ultimately benefits the public good. Simply put, the best administrative research can do is to use administrative data that originates from the public, maximise its value for the public, and eventually contribute back to the public.

Are there any speakers, session or presentation that particularly resonated with you? And why?

First, I felt a strong network of support through interactions with fellow PhD     students, the ADR Training and Capacity Building team, and all the invited speakers. I realised the gathering itself provided not only knowledge but also a sense of community, which is an invaluable and rare resource during the PhD journey. I learnt a lot from every research fellow. For example, applying for administrative data is a challenging, long journey that requires patience, but making full use of the waiting period productively can develop knowledge and skills. Also, Dr Alice Wickersham’s willingness to share her resources to support students in research and analysis was inspiring. The Research Fellow Workshop made me understand the importance of seeking support from the community as well as offering support to others through collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

Additionally, the Policy Impact & Public Engagement Thematic Workshops resonated with me. They emphasised that producing results alone is insufficient. Instead, it is vital to engage with stakeholders early and consistently and incorporate their perspectives in research. Translating findings into actionable insights is also crucial to inform policies and help the targeted population in need, (e.g. children from households with disabled members in my research.) The workshops motivated me to think about how to make my research more impactful beyond academic settings.

Finally, the communication with Professor Sinead Brophy regarding proactive public/policy engagement despite different country contexts was encouraging. She emphasised that while differences in systems exist, it is still worth proactively engaging with the public and policymakers understanding their perspectives. This approach will still help identify common concerns and bridge gaps and also build trust and facilitate the broader applicability of the research to maximise the impact of my research.

How has the event impacted your perspective on your research?

Since the event, I have been contemplating the importance of early and ongoing   engagement with the public, policymakers and stakeholders. The event also highlighted the importance of turning findings into real-world impact. I used to view research as primarily about analysing data and producing papers. However, I am increasingly aware that researching administrative data alone cannot achieve this; it needs to be combined with insights gained through public and policy engagement and collaboration.

This is particularly true for my research with children and their households affected by disability, where the principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us” is crucial. Public and policy engagement should be regarded as integral parts of research, not just add-ons. It is important to create a feedback loop where data informs engagement, and engagement enriches analysis, leading to meaningful contributions to the public good.

Did the event inspire any new ideas for your current or future research? Can you please share with us your next steps for your research following the event?

Yes, one key inspiration I gained is the importance of prioritising early-stage and ongoing public & policy engagement in the research process. For example, Shayda, ADR UK Senior Public Engagement Manager, is currently helping me connect with a disability charity. Thanks to Shayda’s support, I plan to conduct public engagement activities to foster collaboration with stakeholders, integrating their voices into my research. This collaboration will enable me to incorporate stakeholder insights in refining my analysis of administrative data and enhancing the policy and practical relevance of my research.  

Regarding the next steps, I aim to produce a publishable research output in the first quarter of 2025, using the Millennium Cohort Study and linked National Pupil Database to explore how parental disability might affect children’s attainment. I aim to obtain full data access to the Growing Up in England Dataset by March 2025. Currently, my GUIE data application is undergoing the ethical review of the National Statisticians Ethics Advisory Committee, which is scheduled by ONS for early February.

Moving forward, I will focus on creating outputs using GUIE that are accessible to both policymakers and the public, ensuring that my findings are actionable and impactful. I plan to submit an abstract and present it for the ADR UK 2025 Conference. By building stronger collaborations with stakeholders, I hope my PhD research contributes to policies and practices that better support children and their households affected by disability.