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Analysing change over time for small areas - guidance
This article provides an introduction on how statistics for small geographies can be analysed over time
Author: The Area Based Analysis Unit
Regional Trends, no 41, pp 115-129. ISSN: 0261-1783
A strategy for analysing change over time for small areas has been developed and published by ONS. This article provides an introduction to the strategy and illustrates the principles with a simple case study using out-of-work benefit data as a proxy for ‘worklessness’. It aims to show that, although comparison of change over time has some complexities, it is manageable when broken down into stages. The 5 stage strategy is supported by a free interactive tool that also focuses on benefit data to illustrate the strategy and automates the creation of box plots, maps and histograms for every local authority in the country. This article is intended to give advice to those carrying out their own analysis and should be of interest to anyone wanting to develop a good understanding of how things are changing in their own area. It will help you produce a valid analysis that could form the basis for targeting resources or checking whether existing policy interventions are having the desired effect - helping to answer questions such as, ‘Has my area improved since last year?’ or ‘Is the gap between our disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged areas reducing?’
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