“Administrative data are information collected, used, and stored primarily for administrative (i.e., operational), rather than research, purposes. These data can be an excellent source of information for use in research and impact evaluation.”
“J-PAL North America has developed a guide that provides practical guidance on how to obtain and use nonpublic administrative data for a randomized evaluation. While many of the concepts in this guide are relevant across countries and contexts, certain sections are only applicable to research conducted in the United States.”
They have also created a “Catalog of Administrative Data Sets which include specific requirements and processes for obtaining data vary by data source. To assist researchers in screening potential data sources, J-PAL North America has cataloged a number of key US data sets. The catalog documents procedures on how to access data based on information provided by the originating agencies.” Access the complete article.