Quantitative

longitudinal research
Helen Baldwin
SPSW, University of York
The nature of quantitative enquiry
 Used to describe and predict social phenomena
 Relies on the ‘deductive’ approach to research – the testing of
theory
 Quantifies information to examine patterns and trends
 Provides a broad view of an issue – breadth
 Follows the principles of validity, reliability and objectivity
Key features of quantitative
longitudinal research
 Involves large, representative samples
 Typically includes a large set of numerical variables
 Variables are standardised within and across waves
 Survey data are often linked to other types of available data,
e.g. routine medical data
 Data analysis often involves statistical modelling, e.g. survival
analysis
Example: Born in Bradford (BiB)
cohort study

Bradford
• City in the North of England
• Population = 534,300
• Large under 16 population
• Ethnically diverse (large Asian
community)
• High level of deprivation (13th
most deprived local authority in
England)
BiB: Why was it set up?
 Set up in response to concerns about high
rates of childhood morbidity and mortality in
Bradford
 Aimed to:
1. Describe health and ill-health in Bradford
2. Identify causal pathways that promote health
and contribute to illness in childhood and
adulthood
3. Develop and evaluate health and social
interventions to promote health
BiB: Recruitment and baseline data
 13,818 babies born 2007-2011 in Bradford
 Recruited pre-birth, during expectant mothers’ antenatal
appointments at Bradford Royal Infirmary
 Baseline data collected:
1. Routine data (ultrasound and maternity records)
2. Biobank data (blood, urine, saliva)
3. Questionnaire data (mother and partner)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIlMUTjmAfs
BiB: Follow-ups with subgroups
 BiB1000
 Risk factors for childhood obesity
 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 month follow-ups

 ALL IN
 Associations between viral infections and allergies in infants
 12 and 24 month follow-ups
BiB: First follow-up of whole cohort
 BiB Growing Up
 Children aged 7-11 years
 Multi-method approach to data collection
BiB: Linkage to other datasets
Data source Measures
Health visiting records Growth measurements,
breastfeeding, immunisations

School nurse records Growth measurements

Primary and secondary care Attendances, diagnoses, prescribing

National Pupil Database Educational attainment

Child welfare records Recorded abuse and neglect
Linkage to child welfare records
Baldwin et al. 2020

Q: What antenatal factors predict child abuse and neglect?

 Lower socio-economic status

 Younger maternal age
 Lower maternal education level
Multiple predictors of
 Single motherhood subsequent recorded
 Larger family size child abuse/neglect.
Complex interactions
 Maternal mental illness
between factors.
 Maternal smoking in pregnancy