Public sector - understanding equality data collection: main report

1 Introduction

1.1 In September 2020, the Scottish Government commissioned research to improve understanding of the collection of equality and socio-economic disadvantage data by Scottish public sector bodies.

1.2 The research was intended to (i) improve the Scottish Government's understanding of the collection and use of these data in policy making and service design (and delivery) across public services, (ii) explore the barriers to data collection, and (iii) provide insights into what works best in terms of collecting, utilising and safeguarding robust equality and socio-economic disadvantage data.

1.3 This report sets out:

• The background to the project and the aims of the research (Section 2)
• The research methods and approach adopted in undertaking the research (Section 3)
• The findings of the research (Sections 4 to 9), which covered:
  • What equality and socio-economic disadvantage data are collected by public sector bodies (Section 4)
  • The characteristics of equality and socio-economic disadvantage data collections, their purposes and uses (Section 5)
  • How equality and socio-economic disadvantage data are collected and processed (Section 6)
  • Views and experiences in relation to the barriers and challenges in undertaking the collection of equality and socio-economic disadvantage data (Section 7)
  • Views and experiences in relation to the enablers and facilitators in undertaking the collection of equality and socio-economic disadvantage data (Section 8)
  • Views on making the collection of equality and socio-economic disadvantage data mandatory (Section 9)
• Reflections in relation to 'what works best' in terms of collecting, utilising and safeguarding robust equality and socio-economic disadvantage data (Section 10).

1.4 Information on participating organisations, the data collections included, and the research data collection tools are set out in Annexes 1 to 5. Annex 6 provides details about the capture of individual equality data items.