On the use of register data in educational science research

Abstract

Register data are described, in general and specific terms, by focusing on informational content from an educational science perspective. Arguments are provided on the ways in which educational scientists can benefit from register data. It is concluded that register data contain a great deal of information relevant to educational science. Furthermore, two specific features of register data are considered: their panel data nature, implying that register data analyses under certain conditions can account for aspects on which the registers are not informative, and the intergenerational links that these data contain that facilitate the separation of genetic and environmental influences on learning. It is observed that while register data do not contain direct links between students and teachers, this shortcoming can be overcome by merging register data with survey data on these links. As population data, register data enable analyses that are not feasible to conduct with survey data. An illustration is provided concerning how quantitative and qualitative researchers can benefit from combining register-based statistical analyses with in-depth case studies. The use of register data in evaluations of the causal effects of educational interventions is also described. To exploit these advantages, a discussion on how to access register data is included.

Keywords

• Register data
• Nordic
• panel data
• intergenerational links
• ethics review
• combining quantitative and qualitative methods
• causal effect evaluations