Mixed Method Investigation of Parental Social Licence for Operational Data Linkage for Service Intervention, 2020-2022

The project investigates the dynamics of social licence and trust for the operational use of data linkage and predictive analytics to identify families for service intervention. Using algorithms, the characteristics of families who have known poor outcomes for their children are applied to linked up information about all families, to predict which families may have poor outcomes in the future. Individual families can be identified for early intervention by services to prevent the predicted poor outcomes. The research aims to provide an understanding of social licence – legitimacy, acceptance and trust - for these data practices among those implicated: parents of dependent children (<16 years), using a mix of methods to gain a multi-dimensional view. There are three comprising data sets: Survey: online and telephone probability-based panel survey (NatCen) with the focus in principle views on a range of aspects of data linkage and analytics for operational purposes; focus groups: online discussions recorded and transcribed with the focus on articulations and negotiations of perspectives on operational data linkage and predictive analytics for targeted service intervention; and Individual interviews: online discussions recorded and transcribed with a focus on experiences and views of position in relation to data held about their family by services they access, and bases for trust or distrust in operational data linkage and predictive analytics. All datasets are anonymised and consent for use obtained from participants.

本项目旨在探究实操场景下，用于识别服务干预家庭的数据关联与预测分析应用中的社会许可（social licence）与信任动态机制。研究通过算法，将已确认存在儿童不良结局的家庭特征应用于全家庭关联信息库，以预测未来可能出现儿童不良结局的家庭，进而可识别此类家庭并由服务机构开展早期干预，规避预测的不良结局。本研究旨在采用混合研究方法获取多维度视角，深入理解涉事群体——即16岁以下受抚养儿童的父母——对这类数据实践的社会许可认知，其中社会许可具体指合法性、接受度与信任。本项目共包含三类数据集：其一为调查类数据集：由NatCen开展的基于概率抽样的线上与电话面板调查，核心聚焦于实操场景下数据关联与分析多维度议题的原则性看法；其二为焦点小组数据集：经录制与转录的线上讨论，重点围绕针对性服务干预场景下的实操数据关联与预测分析，探究参与者观点的表述与协商过程；其三为个人访谈数据集：经录制与转录的线上访谈，核心关注参与者对所接入服务所持有其家庭相关数据的处境体验与看法，以及对实操数据关联与预测分析产生信任或不信任的依据。所有数据集均已完成匿名化处理，且所有参与者均已签署研究使用知情同意书。