For Researchers

For Researchers Collaborating with CHDS

The CHDS Study Members have been assessed at 24 time points from birth to age 40, and we will soon add the data from age 50, making CHDS one of the most comprehensive longitudinal datasets of its kind in Aotearoa New Zealand.

We hold a wide range of data, this included parental interviews covering a range of developmentally relevant topics; standardised teacher questionnaires on academic achievement and social adjustment, completed annually from ages 6 to 12; standardised assessments of intelligence, reading, mathematics, and scholastic ability up to age 18, direct interviews with Study Members covering mental health and wellbeing topics (e.g., suicide, self-harm, depression, PTSD, anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders); and official records (e.g., police records, hospital notes). As such, CHDS cares for this rich resource provided by the Study Members, for researchers seeking to conduct quantitative analysis into health and wellbeing across the life course.

Read on to learn how to request access to CHDS data for your research.

  1. Request Data Access

    Request Data Access

    Interested in collaborating with CHDS? We work closely with researchers to match your research questions to the data we hold, and to prepare a custom dataset for your project. Expand below to see what to include in your request and what happens next.

    To begin a collaboration, please email us at chds.uoc@otago.ac.nz with:

    • A brief description of your research question or hypothesis
    • Proposed variables or topic areas of interest
    • Affiliation and research team members
    • Funding status, if relevant
    • Intended outputs (e.g., publication, thesis, policy report)

    Once we review your request, we will:

    • Confirm whether relevant data exist
    • Work with you to refine variables if needed
    • Provide access to our data dictionary and metadata
    • Prepare a custom dataset for your use

  1. Data Access Conditions

    Data Access Conditions

    CHDS data are held under strict ethical and confidentiality safeguards. Before we can share data, collaborating researchers need to agree to a set of conditions covering data use, security, and participant privacy. Expand below for details.

    CHDS Data Access is Governed & Controlled

    Because CHDS data contain sensitive personal information from Study Members, access is governed by strict ethical and confidentiality requirements. Collaborating researchers must agree to:

    • Use data only for approved research purposes
    • Not attempt to identify participants
    • Store data securely according to institutional requirements
    • Obtain ethics approval where required
    • Destroy or return datasets at project completion

    Data are not publicly downloadable, and raw data are not transferred to third parties without approval. Some analyses may occur onsite or through secure access platforms, depending on sensitivity.

  1. Collaboration & Authorship Expectations

    Collaboration & Authorship Expectations

    Using CHDS data involves working with us as collaborators, not just accessing a dataset. Expand below to see what this means for authorship, review, and acknowledgement. Expand below for details.

    We Operate on a Collaborative Model

    Outputs or publications using CHDS data generally require:

    • CHDS investigator(s) to be included as a co-author. This typically also means input or oversight of the methodology explanation, contextual knowledge, data interpretation, and limitations.
    • Review of manuscripts prior to submission, to ensure scientific accuracy and responsible reporting.
    • Acknowledgement of the CHDS Study Members and those who have significantly contributed to the collection of the data.

    For student-led projects: If Masters or PhD candidates are leading the project, supervision arrangements must be established and confirmed by all members of the supervision team.

  1. Ethics & Oversight Considerations

    Ethics & Oversight Considerations

    Collaborating with CHDS involves working within an established framework of governance and, in some cases, cost recovery. Expand below for details.

    Costs & Support 

    In some cases, cost recovery may apply for staff time spent preparing bespoke datasets or conducting specialised analyses. Fees will be discussed in advance and depend on project scope.

    Ethics & Governance

    All CHDS data use is subject to ethical and governance oversight from multiple bodies, including Study Member, institutional, and international review. All use of CHDS data is overseen by:

    • The CHDS Advisory Board
    • The CHDS Cohort Advisory Board
    • The CHDS International Intellectual Advisory Board
    • University of Otago and University of Canterbury Research Governance
    • Health and disability ethics requirements

    Researchers may need to submit an ethics application to their home institution before accessing data.

  1. Additional Supports

    Additional Supports

    CHDS offers a range of practical supports to help collaborating researchers get the most out of the data. Expand below for details.

    CHDS may provide additional supports for those who are looking to collaborate with us and access the data. Additional supports may include, but are not limited to:

    • Guidance on variable selection and study context
    • Support with longitudinal and causal modelling issues
    • Access to derived variables and established measures
    • Cohort demographic and attrition information
    • Linking in the data and analysis

    If you have questions or should you want to explore what options there, please contact us at chds.uoc@otago.ac.nz