Using Administrative Data in Social Policy Research

Administrative data have the potential to help us answer pressing social policy questions. Government stakeholders and researchers are exploring the promises of using administrative data for research purposes.

This brief summarizes an Innovative Methods Meeting that was organized by OPRE in the fall of 2015 that considered the potential benefits and pitfalls of using administrative data for research purposes.

Topics included:

• Promises and challenges
• Balancing access to data with maintaining confidentiality
• Innovative applications
• Working with administrative data
• Federal efforts and future directions