What makes the Integrated Data Infrastructure such a great analytical tool?

If you’ve ever wondered what makes the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI) such a great analytical tool, this article about the consequences of what not being able to read or do maths as a teenager means for future life experience, is a good example.

Policy professionals use different evidence sources to understand an issue. Small scale surveys and studies often give rich, qualitative details about people’s lives. Bigger datasets can help answer population-wide questions, like what is happening for which groups of people.

The IDI takes things further by linking bigger datasets together. That makes it possible to see the journeys (life course) of (de-identified) individuals through time.

Using integrated data from 2009 to 2020 this study found that those with low reading and maths skills have poorer outcomes across a range of wellbeing measures: lower rates of participation in, and completion of, further education; lower employment rates and average earnings; and higher rates of hospitalisation and non-admitted secondary care events, as well as higher rates of criminal offending and convictions.

Of course, understanding the issue is only the beginning. Public servants also needs to offer solutions. Their next job is going back to the evidence to figure out what should happen next.

As a solution to the issue above, this government is investing in structured literacy and numeracy. This includes evidence based content, teaching principles and pedagogical approaches.

Frank Capability offers courses that will help you sift the evidence for understanding the issue and possible solutions. Check out either our Evidence for Better Decisions, or Introduction to Social Investment courses.