Using Administrative Data Banks for Research and Evaluation

This article discusses methods of organizing and checking administrative data banks to increase their usefulness for research and evaluation. Examples are drawn from the studies using the Manitoba Health Services Commission data bank. The various uses of both manual and computerized checks are explained. A problem profile is presented for the Manitoba data bank; this profile summarizes different specific problems, incor porating new threats to internal validity associated with the use of data banks. The improvements in data collection represented by data banks are discussed in terms of developing multiple control group designs.