New Datasets Available

6 June 2019

The following datasets are now available from the ISSDA:

Eager and Able to Learn (EAL) Baseline

https://www.ucd.ie/issda/datasetsintheissda/eal/

This study comprises of three datasets containing the findings of a baseline survey conducted as part of the evaluation of the 'Eager and Able to Learn (EAL)' programme, the pilot programme designed by Early Years, which is the organisation for young children in Northern Ireland.

The programme is targeted at 2-3 years olds in early years settings. The baseline survey was conducted between October 2008 and January 2009. The purpose of the baseline survey was to gain a 'snapshot' of the developmental stages of a large sample of 2-3 year old children in Northern Ireland. A secondary purpose was to find out the perceptions of children's parents and practitioners in the early years setting, about the developmental needs of 2-3 year olds and their associated actions and interactions with the children.

Rialto Learning Community Out of School (OST) Project

https://www.ucd.ie/issda/datasetsintheissda/rlcost/

The dataset contains the findings from the quasi-experimental evaluation of the Rialto Learning Community (RLC) 'Out of School Time' (OST) initiative undertaken by Queen's University Belfast.

The RLC OST initiative aimed to improve the range and the quality of OST activities that are available to young people in the Rialto area of Dublin. The range of programmes included in the RLC included homework support, sport and performing arts. The aim of the evaluation study was to explore the effectiveness of this combination of activities with specific focus on how these relate to outcomes for young people in the areas of; behaviour and motivation for learning, homework difficulty, school enjoyment and educational aspirations.

Business in the Community "Time to Read" Pupil Mentoring Programme Trials 1 and 2

https://www.ucd.ie/issda/datasetsintheissda/bitc/

The BITC2 dataset outlines the findings from a follow-up randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluation of the Business in the Community's 'Time to Read' porogramme. The trial was undertaken between October 2009 and June 2010 and was a follow-up to a previous RCT conducted between 2006-2008. The secind trial took on board recommendations that emerged during the first trial regarding the need to focus on more specific outcomes relating to literacy outcomes.

Irish Survey of Student Engagement (ISSE) 2018

https://www.ucd.ie/issda/datasetsintheissda/isse/theirishsurveyofstudentengagementisse2018/

The central aim of Irish Survey of Student Engagement (ISSE) is to develop a valuable source of information about students’ experiences of higher education in Ireland. The results of the survey are intended primarily to add value at institutional level, and to inform national policy. A detailed online survey was offered to first year undergraduates, final year undergraduates and postgraduate students on taught programmes. Data are presented as responses to individual items and as calculated scores for eleven indices that relate to broad aspects of student engagement, such as Collaborative Learning and Higher Order Learning. The ISSE has formative links with the US National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and the Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE). Thus, Irish data can be evaluated in the context of other jurisdictions in addition to the national or sector contexts.

Eurostudent VI

https://www.ucd.ie/issda/datasetsintheissda/eurostudent/

Ireland is one of 30 countries which participated in the Eurostudent VI survey, and this dataset continues the initiative of previous Eurostudent reports extensively analysing the characteristics of students studying in Ireland by examining the demographic profile of the student population, the courses they are undertaking, their income and expenditure, their accomodation and employment, the route they took into higher education and the extent to which they study abroad as part of their programme.

Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) – Evaluation of the CDI’s Community Safety Initiative: Community Safety Surveys, 2010 and 2011

https://www.ucd.ie/issda/datasetsintheissda/cdicommunitysafetyinitiative20102011/

Established in 2008, the Community Safety Initiative (CSI) aimed to improve safety within the home, school and wider community environment in Tallaght West, Co. Dublin. Initiatives were implemented in targeted areas to raise community spirit and belonging locally, build strong relationships and trust between residents and service providers, and establish a shared sense of responsibility amongst residents and service providers in relation to improving safety. This study evaluated the implementation of the initiative by the Childhood Development Initiative between 2008 and 2011.

Doodle Den: Evaluation of the effectiveness of the Childhood Development Initiative’s Doodle Den Literacy Programme, 2008-2011

https://www.ucd.ie/issda/datasetsintheissda/doodleden/

The study was a randomised controlled trial of an after-schools literacy programme. In total, 623 children were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups over the three cohorts. 464 children, 472 teacher child assessments and 197 parents completed both pre- and post-test questionnaires.
Data were collected on three primary outcomes and seven secondary outcomes, utilising a combination of child, parent and teacher responses. The primary outcomes comprised: a direct measure of the children’s overall literacy ability, a teachers’ rating of general literacy ability and a children’s writing ability item. The secondary outcomes included: school attendance; literacy activity; library activity; children’s reading activities at home; concentration and behaviour in class; children’s attitudes to literacy; and parental attitudes to reading.
Other, contextual data include child gender; which of the three cohorts the child participated in; the ethnicity of the child; the level of family affluence/poverty; and the number of sessions attended by the child.

Early Childhood Care and Education collection: Evaluation of the Early Years Programme of the Childhood Development Initiative (ECCE), 2008 – 2011

https://www.ucd.ie/issda/datasetsintheissda/ecce/

The Early Years Service was a two year service for preschool children, with integrated health care, wrap-around supports and professional development elements. The programme sought to strengthen children’s positive dispositions to learning through enjoyable, challenging and enriching opportunities within the family, education and care facilities and community to enhance their well-being, identity and participation. Specifically, it sought to make pre-school children more ready for the transition to school by achieving moderate improvements in relation to the following:

All domains of the child’s development, including physical well-being, social and emotional development, approaches to learning, language development and emergent literacy;
Parent psychological health, as well as the quality of parents’ relationships with the child and their parenting skills; and
The child’s environment – social relations in the home, school and community, improving outcomes for the child, through a focus on the child’s family and environment.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Childhood Development Initiative’s Mate-Tricks Pro-Social Behaviour After-School Programme (2012)

https://www.ucd.ie/issda/datasetsintheissda/cdimate-tricks2012/

This report presents the findings of an independent evaluation, undertaken by the Centre for Effective Education at Queen’s University Belfast, of the Mate-Tricks pro-social behaviour after-school programme. Mate-Tricks is an after-school programme designed to promote pro-social behaviour in Tallaght West (Dublin). Itis aimed at improving pro-social behaviour amongst children aged 9-10 years (Irish 4th class). The intended outcomes of this programme include enhanced children’s pro-social development, confidence and self-esteem, problem-solving skills and reduced anti-social behaviour. This evaluation primarily focused on assessing the impact of Mate-Tricks on children’s outcomes.

Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) – Process Evaluation Inter-agency Collaboration Questionnaire, 2008 - 2012

https://www.ucd.ie/issda/datasetsintheissda/cdiprocessevaluation2008-2012/

This study evaluated the implementation of the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) in Tallaght West, Co. Dublin, between 2008 and 2012. The project aims included to examine and critically assess the working processes and services of CDI in implementing its programme of work to improve outcomes for children and families. A core aim of the CDI strategy envisaged the Tallaght West community working together to improve the quality of existing service provision in the locality.

The evaluation adopted a mixed-methods approach in gathering data, with the primary method being qualitative – interviews, documentary analysis and observations. A small amount of additional data was gathered via a survey, comprising the quantitative element. The survey targeted those working for service agencies, and particularly those working in organisations which work with children and families. The survey theme was interagency working and service integration’ and was conducted to ascertain the extent of interagency working at the strategic level.

Rialto Learning Community Out of School Time (OST) Project

https://www.ucd.ie/issda/datasetsintheissda/rlcost/