IJPDS International Journal of Population Data Science

A new case study, published in the International Journal of Population Data Science (IJPDS), shows how care-experienced young people can work alongside researchers as equal partners to co-produce complex data-intensive research. The project, led by the Administrative Data Research Centre Northern Ireland (ADRC NI) in partnership with the charity Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC), demonstrates that co-production in data-intensive research is not only possible, but delivers real benefits for individuals, research quality, and organisations.

Queen’s University Belfast researchers within ADRC NI worked with a group of care experienced young people through VOYPIC to examine links between childhood care experience and mental health using population-wide administrative data. Over two years, nine workshops gave young people an active role in setting the research agenda, shaping questions, interpreting results, and sharing findings in accessible ways.

This collaboration helped bridge the gap between the “numbers” in datasets and the lived realities behind them. Young participants reported gaining skills, confidence, and a sense of empowerment. Researchers gained new insights that shifted research priorities, including a new focus on positive outcomes for care leavers. Organisations benefited too: VOYPIC strengthened its mission of giving care-experienced young people a voice, while ADRC NI developed a model that is being replicated in other data research projects with underserved groups.

The study also highlighted challenges. Explaining complex statistical methods in accessible ways was not easy, and restrictions around secure data access meant young people could not directly take part in data analysis. However, the strong partnership between VOYPIC and ADRC NI, and a genuine desire to include the young people as equal partners, helped overcome many of these barriers.

The findings show that co-producing data research with underserved groups is not only feasible but can transform how such research is done and used. Co-Chair and care-experienced young person Esla Ibrahim said: “I enjoyed being part of this group and gaining knowledge about administrative data and how we can learn about and improve outcomes by looking at the links between data sets. Throughout this project we felt included and like our insight was really listened to and acted on. We hope that our paper shows that by including underserved groups and working with them in the research about their lives it strengthens the process and adds to the overall outcome.  It would be amazing if projects like ours become the norm in the research community.”

Lead author Dr Sarah McKenna said: “This project proves that even in complex data-intensive research, co-production is possible and worthwhile. Care-experienced young people helped make the research more relevant and impactful, while also gaining confidence and skills themselves. We’re proud of what we have achieved and to co-author this paper together. To embed this approach, we now need research systems and funders to support long-term partnerships with voluntary and community organisations.”

The authors hope their approach will inspire others to make co-production “business as usual” in data research, ensuring the voices of underserved communities are at the heart of evidence that can shape policy and services.

 

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Co-authors Esla Ibrahim, Ash Salem, Rhianna Brown, Martha McCallin

McKenna, S., Salem, A., Ibrahim, E., Brown, R., McCallin, M., Kilpatrick, B., Irvine, J., Kane, L., Nelson, E. and Maguire, A. (2025) “Co-producing data-intensive research with an underserved group: a case study and evaluation identifying pathways to impact”, International Journal of Population Data Science, 10(1). Available at: https://ijpds.org/article/view/2976 (Accessed: 4 November 2025).