Collecting the perfect data to answer a research question is optimal but not always feasible. Sometimes existing data can be leveraged to answer some questions, but this opportunity comes with important potential pitfalls. To test the effect of early life exposures such as being born preterm or living in a materially deprived neighborhood on early…

This case study evaluated the impact of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics initiatives in improving educational outcomes in the United Kingdom. Using secondary data in the form of official datasets approved by the national pupil database, Year 7 cohort was longitudinally followed from the beginning of Key Stage 3 till the end of Key…