CLOSER teamed up with Young Lives and Lancaster University Management School to run a four-day conference exploring longitudinal studies in low- and middle- income countries before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Videos and slides from the event are available below.
The aim of this conference was to dive into the challenges and opportunities of longitudinal research in low- and middle income countries (LMISc), learning from researchers’ diverse experiences across a variety of international longitudinal studies.
Each session featured a panel of experts who addressed a variety of questions, including:
- What is the role of longitudinal research in addressing Covid-19 and its aftermath?
- How can longitudinal data be linked to other data sources or combined with multiple methods to enhance their value?
- What have we learned in terms of the practical and ethical lessons for sustaining research cohorts over many years, and how has Covid-19 required us to adapt?
Find out more and watch videos from each of the daily seminars below.
COVID-19 and longitudinal research: opportunities and challenges
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way that all research is conducted and presents many logistical and ethical challenges. However, longitudinal research has been well placed to respond to the crisis, and build on existing relationships with participants to assess impacts. This session showcased research findings from longitudinal studies that have responded to COVID-19 in developing countries. The session was moderated by Catherine Porter (University of Lancaster).
Download the presentation slides
- Young Lives, Interrupted: Short-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents in LMICs – Douglas Scott (Young Lives)
- Intersecting Disadvantages: Impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable adolescents – Sarah Baird (Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence)
- Evolving socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 in four African countries – Talip Kilik (World Bank)
- The impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns on physical domestic violence: Evidence from Peru – Alan Sanchez (Young Lives)
Innovation in longitudinal research
Understanding individuals’ behaviours and designing effective policies requires access and management of different data sources. What are these data sources and how can we better link them into our research? This session presented examples of how longitudinal data can be linked to other data sources and the main challenges and opportunities of doing so. The session was moderated by Rafael Novella (UCL, CLOSER).
Download the presentation slides
- Closing Gaps – Yyannu Cruz (Inter-American Development Bank, IDB)
- The benefits of using longitudinal data when conducting a Randomised Control Trial – Paul Glewee (University of Minnesota)
- What difference do schools make? A mixed methods study in secondary schools in Peru – Juan Leon (GRADE
- Longitudinal data and impact evaluation of water infrastructure projects in DRC – Claire Zanuso (French Development Agency, AFD)
Doing and Adapting Longitudinal Research: What have we learned?
This session aimed to stimulate discussion on the methodological, ethical and practical challenges encountered in the conduct of longitudinal research in LMICs. It invited speakers from a variety of studies to reflect on their experiences of conducting longitudinal research, how they have adapted due to the pandemic, and what the future of longitudinal research in LMICs might look like. The session was moderated by Gina Crivello (Young Lives)
Download the presentation slides
- Ethics learning from Young Lives: 20 years on – Virginia Morrow (Young Lives)
- Challenges (and opportunities) involved in administering a phone survey to young people during a national lockdown: the case of the YL study in Peru – Alan Sánchez (GRADE, Young Lives)
- Opportunities & challenges of conducting longitudinal research during the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons from the field – Caroline Moreau (Johns Hopkins University, Global Early Adolescent Study)
- Longitudinal population studies: opportunities and challenges – Rebecca Hardy (UCL, CLOSER)
Special session: Longitudinal evidence on skills inequality in Peru
This session showcased work from the ESRC-funded project, Inequality in skills in Peru. The presentations featured studies on the impact of recently implemented secondary and higher education policies in Peru. The session focused particularly on policy implications and invited participation from researchers and policymakers. The session was moderated by Santiago Cueto (GRADE).
Speakers included:
- Jorge Aguero (University of Connecticut)
- Alan Agüero (GRADE)
Further information
If you have any questions or require further information about this conference, please contact: younglives@qeh.ox.ac.uk
This conference is a collaborative event organised by Young Lives, CLOSER and Lancaster University Management School.