Using data to understand Scotland’s health
At a glance
Student: Sophie Birtwistle
Degree: Social Policy with Quantitative Methods
Host organisation: ScotCen
LinkedIn: Sophie Birtwistle
Methods and tools: Survey analysis, SPSS and statistical tables
The project
Sophie completed a summer placement with ScotCen, working with data from the Scottish Health Survey. The survey provides evidence about the health and wellbeing of people across Scotland and supports research and public policy.
What Sophie did
Sophie used SPSS to analyse survey data and helped produce statistical tables for the survey’s annual report. This involved working carefully with a large social dataset, checking outputs and presenting results in a form that could contribute to published research.
Why the work mattered
Her work contributed to research produced for the Scottish Government. The placement showed how quantitative social science can turn survey responses into evidence that helps researchers and policymakers understand patterns in Scotland’s health.
Skills developed
- Analysing survey data in SPSS
- Producing and checking statistical tables
- Interpreting quantitative evidence
- Working within a professional social-research team
- Communicating findings for a policy audience