The British longitudinal birth cohort studies: their utility for the study of health and place

Very little use has been made in geography of Britain's three longitudinal birth cohort studies. These studies are currently charting the lives of three cohorts born, respectively, in 1946, 1958 and 1970, collecting information at intervals about major aspects of the cohort members' existence. Funding permitting, these studies aim to continue throughout the lives of their cohorts. This paper seeks to provide a brief introduction to the studies, to show what they contain, and to consider their advantages and disadvantages for secondary data analysis, particularly with regard to the study of health and place.