Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70) is a longitudinal birth cohort study, following a nationally representative sample of over 17,000 people born in England, Scotland and Wales in a single week of 1970. Cohort members have been sureveyed throughout their childhood and adult lives, mapping their individual trajectories and creating a unique resource for researchers. It is one of very few longitudinal studies following people of this generation anywhere in the world.Since 1970, cohort members have been surveyed at ages 5, 10, 16, 26, 30, 34, 38, 42 and 46. Featuring a range of objective measures and rich self-reported data, BCS70 covers an incredible amount of ground and can be used in research on many topics Evidence from BCS70 has illuminated important issues for our society across five decades. Key findings include how reading for pleasure matters for children's cognitive development, why grammar schools have not reduced social inequalities, and how childhood experiences can impact on mental health in mid-life. Every day researchers from across the scientific community are using this important study to make new connections and discoveries.BCS70 is run by the Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS), a research centre in the UCL Institute of Education, which is part of University College London. The content of BCS70 studies, including questions, topics and variables can be explored via the CLOSER Discovery website.How to access genetic and/or bio-medical sample data from a range of longitudinal surveys:For information on how to access biomedical data from BCS70 that are not held at the UKDS, see the CLS Genetic data and biological samples webpage.Secure Access datasetsSecure Access versions of BCS70 have more restrictive access conditions than versions available under the standard End User Licence (EUL).
The BCS70 Birth and 22-Month Sub-sample The aims of the birth survey and the 22-month sub-sample survey were to assess obstetric services and the quality of life in the first week of life, and to attempt to identify foetal malnutrition and to investigate its effect on the subsequent development of the child. For the third edition (May 2013) a new derived variables data file was deposited with accompanying documentation, and existing data files edited accordingly. See the documents covering Derived Variables and Region Variables for further details.
Main Topics:
Social, biological and medical features of the mother and baby.
No sampling (total universe)
One-stage stratified or systematic random sample
The Birth sample (A) included all babies born (alive or dead) after the 24th week of gestation, in one particular week in 1970 in the United Kingdom.The 22-month sub-sample (B) is a 10% sample of the live births in (A) plus all multiple births, all singleton children born at later than 42 weeks gestation, and all singleton children who were on or below the 5th centile of birthweight for their length of gestation.
Face-to-face interview
Observation
Some information for the Birth Sample (A) was also provided by midwives.
