RUSSELL ECOB

Address

36 Prospecthill Road

Glasgow G42 9LE

Scotland

Tel. No.: 0141-649-9387

PROFILE

An experienced applied statistician with interests primarily in social, medical and educational research. Experience of working in universities, with a local authority and with the Medical Research Council. Co-author (and co-editor) of books on applications of statistical methods and on research in schools. Author of over 20 articles in academic journals. I have taught statistics at a number of levels (including PhD supervision) and organized meetings, courses and seminars. Expertise in a number of statistical software packages, in particular the multilevel modelling package MLwiN. My current research interests include effects of area of residence on health, social inequalities in health, developing and testing systems models for the explanation of health, analysis of longitudinal data, the effects of class size on school attainment and progress.

Employment History

1999-present

Statistical consultant. I offer a variety of services, listed in services offered.

1986-1999.

MRC Medical Sociology Unit (SPHSRU), Glasgow, Social Statistician.

Particular aspects of my work in this unit over this period include;

Overseeing the statistical aspects of the unit's survey work - this involves the sample design for a major prospective study of health in the community (The West of Scotland Twenty-07 Study), administration of the sampling procedures, input into content of the interviews and analysis of the data.
Development and implementation of a sampling scheme for a longitudinal sample of children in secondary schools to assess the contribution of within school and extra-school factors to health and health related behaviours and changes in these over time (West of Scotland 11-16 Study). The sampling method is unique creating a random and representative sample at a secondary stage by sampling children at an earlier, primary, stage.
Evaluation of the size and nature of the contribution of area of residence to health, (mortality, morbidity, health related behaviours) in the West of Scotland, Scotland and the UK as a whole.
Detailed examination of the relation of income to health, in conjunction with other social factors.
Generation of proposals to apply and further extend statistical models for the analysis of both spatial and longitudinal data. Implementation of a general systems model for the explanation of health (feasibility study - Scottish Office funded).
Formulation of proposals for research into the efficiency and effectiveness of primary health care
Provision of statistical advice to the unit generally.
Training and teaching at a number of levels.

1981-6

Statistician/Researcher, Research and Statistics Dept., Inner London Educational Authority.

Statistician on The Junior School Project (JSP), a longitudinal study of children in Junior schools in Inner London (the first study in the UK to study attainment and progress, both cognitive and non-cognitive, over the whole junior school age range). Responsible for further developing and applying methods for multilevel analysis in liason with London University Institute of Education), including the allowance for measurement error analyses

1980

Visiting Lecturer in methods for educational assessment, University of Jos, Nigeria. Faculty of Education.

Teaching on postgraduate courses/supervision of projects.

1980-2

Lecturer; Econometric methods, Polytechnic of Central London.

1978-8

Research Statistician, Dept of Statistics and Mathematical Sciences, London University Institute of Education.

Developed and applied statistical models for the analysis of longitudinal data. Models included Structural Equation Models, Instrumental Variables Models, models to incorporate measurement error in categorical variables in the analysis of change over time. Organized seminar on application of structural equation models and co-edited related book.

EDUCATION

Oxford University (1964-8), B.A.Hons 2(i), Mathematics 1964-7;

Certificate of Statistics 1967-8).

Sussex University (MSc, Experimental Psychology, 1968-9)

INTERESTS

Piano and viola player (ATCL, 1969, Advanced Diploma, Associated Board,1992, both in piano performance). Photography (Dipl. Dept. Adult and Continuing Education, Glasgow University). Squash/Tennis (member of Giffnock Tennis and Squash Club, Glasgow; past captain, third men’s squash team). Marathon running. Woodcraft Folk (past involvement). Radical Statistics (including editorship of Newsletter, biennial essay competition). Member of LLSO, Glasgow Phoenix choir. Reading, Travel.