Using Administrative Data for Randomized Evaluations

“This guide provides practical guidance on how to obtain and use nonpublic administrative data for a randomized evaluation. Administrative data are information collected, used, and stored primarily for administrative (i.e., operational) rather than research purposes. Government departments and other organizations collect administrative data for the purposes of registration, transaction, and record keeping, usually during the delivery of a service. Examples of administrative data include credit card transactions, sales records, electronic medical records, insurance claims, educational records, arrest records, and mortality records. This guide focuses on nonpublic (i.e., proprietary or confidential) administrative data that may be used in an individual-level randomized evaluation….

This guide focuses on the following topics:

• Standardized processes for accessing administrative data
• The ethical and legal framework surrounding the use of administrative data for randomized evaluations
• Common challenges in using administrative data” (p.3).

MAJOR FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS

“There are a number of advantages to using administrative data for research: Cost and ease. Using administrative data may be less expensive and logistically easier than collecting new data” (p.6).

“Reduced participant burden. Subjects are not required to provide information to researchers that has already been shared in other contexts.” (p.6).

“Accuracy. Administrative data may be more accurate than surveys in measuring characteristics that are complex or difficult for subjects to remember…” (p.6).

“Minimized bias. Using administrative data that are captured passively, rather than actively reported by individuals or program staff, minimizes the risk of social desirability or enumerator bias” (p.6.)

“Long-term availability. Administrative data may be collected systematically and regularly over time, allowing researchers to observe outcomes for study participants across long spans of time” (p.6).

Cost data. Some administrative data sources are the authoritative data source of cost data, enabling research on public finances or cost-effectiveness analysis” (p.7).

The authors also advise to allow sufficient time to access data. “Gaining access to administrative data is a multifaceted process that should be initiated during the design phase of any research project.

• Last Updated:
• Created:
• Resource Publication Date: 2022
• Posted by: Wesley Peterson
• Posted in: Evaluation and Research Hub