Why Big Data Matters

Led by: Generation Scotland

Funding awarded: £5,970

About the project

Generation Scotland is Scotland’s largest family health and well-being study with over 40,000 participants, looking to improve health and wellbeing of current and future generations in Scotland.

It is a collaboration between the Universities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow with NHS Scotland.

Through a partnership with the University of Glasgow Schools Health and Wellbeing Improvement Research Network (SHINE), Generation Scotland developed resources for use in schools across Scotland on health and data research and why it is important for young people to get involved.

The project team created school resources consisting of three lessons covering key aspects of health data research:

What is health data research?
What is data linkage?
What is data ethics and why does it matter?

Each 40-minute lesson includes a video introduction with graphics and audio, a hands-on activity and further discussion points to engage the class in the topic.

Click here to learn more about the school resources.

Project impact

The project team delivered three online information and training sessions for teachers, which introduced the resources, gathered practical feedback, and supported teachers in delivering the lessons confidently.

Six pilot schools were involved in trailing the resources, with 150-180 pupils participating. The resources reached around 1,350 pupils, with fifteen teachers engaged in online sessions to support delivery and feedback. In total, the resources were shared with over 770 schools and all 32 local authorities across Scotland.

The resources were requested from the Generation Scotland website by around 45 different schools across 22 out of 32 local authorities in Scotland.

Overall, the project delivered a more engaging, curriculum-aligned, and teacher-informed resource, while establishing strong relationships with schools that will support future development, sustainability, and impact.

Through the project, Generation Scotland strengthened its partnerships with SHINE and established new and deeper relationships with schools across Scotland. The funding also enabled closer collaboration with pilot schools and supported better relationships with key education authorities.

“One of the best resources I have ever used and the pupils absolutely loved it. It’s on the curriculum for all of S1 for next year.”

Secondary teacher

“Thanks to the funding from RDS we have been able to reach so many more schools and actually listen to feedback from schools and young people in order to make the resource more relatable.”

Sarah Robertson, Youth Engagement Lead, Generation Scotland

“In this age of data, it is increasingly important that young people are empowered to understand the processes and value of high-quality research methods, so that they can make a confident and informed choice when invited to take part in health research.”

SHINE Manager

More information

Visit the Generation Scotland website

Learn more about the school resources

Generation Scotland was previously supported by our Public Engagement Fund in 2022-23, where the team connected with members of the public at science festivals and other large-scale events.