Making better use of data and information
This project aims to increase the research capacity of agencies working with and for refugees and asylum seekers, and to make the data and information they collect more accessible as evidence for policy making and for use in public debate.
The project encourages agencies to work together, pooling their data and information, so as to increase the evidence base.
'Data and information' means primary data and information about refugees and asylum seekers collected chiefly through casework activity or research; it consists of both raw and analysed sources, qualitative and quantitative data.
The project is guided by the ethical guidelines issued by the Social Research Association. The project promotes data and information sharing only with appropriate and necessary ethical and legal safeguards.
The project has been funded for two years by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Project Tools
The project has developed three tools to support the research activity of agencies working with refugees and asylum seekers and to encourage and facilitate sharing of data and information:
- refdata is a catalogue of datasets generated by agencies working with and for refugees and asylum seekers. It does not contain the actual datasets, but information about them. The purpose of refdata is to promote and facilitate increased and more effective use of existing refugee and other agency data about these issues. The datasets included in refdata relate to UK refugee and asylum issues and are both qualitative and quantitative. They include client casework databases and datasets generated by specific research projects.
- Doing case studies for the refugee sector: a DIY handbook for agencies and practitioners, has been written by Lea Esterhuizen especially for the refugee sector, and provides step by step advice on when to use case studies and on how to collect, analyse, and use data and information for case studies. Click here for more information on the handbook.
- making better use of data and information pack is an online resource that provides ideas and guidance for effective collection and use of data and information by refugee and other relevant agencies. It includes sections on: why collect data and information, and on designing your research agenda. To view the information pack click here
The project also held a multi-agency seminar in July 2002 on client casework databases, lessons learnt and best practice for the future. The following documents were produced:
write up of presentations
issues discussed
ICAR also worked with Bail for Immigration Detainees to design and implement a client casework database to meet its casework, administrative, research, and advocacy needs and so that ICAR could learn about the process.
Future Work
ICAR is planning to work with refugee community organisations [RCOs] to develop a standard client casework database to assist them with their day-to-day work and to collect evidence for policy making.
ICAR will add to the datasets included in refdata and promote use of it by refugee agencies and third parties, including academics and policy makers.
ICAR will extend the making better use pack to provide more detailed guidance, for example on survey design.
If you know of a dataset that could be included in refdata, have ideas about what you would like the making better use pack to cover, would like further information about our planned work with RCOs, or have feedback on the project, please contact e: t: 020 7040 4596.
Project Partners
ICAR has developed this project in partnership with the following agencies:
- Refugee Action
- Refugee Council
- Bail for Immigration Detainees
- East Midlands Consortium for Asylum and Refugee Support - EMCARS
- Northern Refugee Centre
- Praxis
- Shelter
- South London Tamil Welfare Group
Agencies have been selected based on their representation of a variety of levels and areas of involvement with refugees and asylum seekers.
Lea Esterhuizen has been social research consultant to the project. ICAR is very grateful to Barbara Nea, Nick Maskell, Jo Constable, and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation project advisory group members for their contributions to this project.
For more information about this project please contact:
ICAR
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Last Updated: 25/02/09
