Services to researchers
The Profession's libraries provide a range of services for researchers, including members of working parties and authors of papers and conference presentations.
Referencing
When preparing a paper or report you will often need to support your arguments by referring to other published work, including books, journal or newspaper articles, government reports and material downloaded from the Internet.
It is important to give accurate references:
- To give credit to the work of others
- To provide evidence to support your argument
- To enable a reader of your work to locate the reference
- To avoid charges of plagiarism, an offence which can lead to loss of reputation and, in extreme cases, legal procedings
There are many systems for the citation of references. The Actuarial Profession's journals use the Harvard system which is used very widely in academic publications. There are many excellent resources on the Internet to guide you to use this system effectively:
Anglia Ruskin University Harvard system of referencing guide
This guide explains how to cite references in the body of your text and how to compile the reference list and bibliography.
The library staff are always ready to advise on questions about referencing.
Email: libraries@actuaries.org.uk
Access to datasets
The library staff can advise on access to datasets. The list below gives examples of sources of datasets which may be used for research.
FTSE Indices data
| Download schedule of data and application form. | |
| Type of data: |
|
| Access: | Members may use the data to assist with non-commercial research for a Working Party, Committee or academic research. |
| Enquiries: | libraries@actuaries.org.uk |
Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI)
| Website: | http://www.actuaries.org.uk/research-and-resources/pages/continuous-mortality-investigation |
| Type of data: | Much of the CMI’s work is based on analysing data supplied by UK life assurance companies and by actuarial consultancies, in respect of members of large self-administered pension schemes (SAPS). |
| Access: |
The CMI is funded by contributions from its members, the majority of whom also submit data. Members receive results for any data they have submitted and detailed results presenting the experience of the aggregated dataset. All dealings with members are confidential.
Some CMI research findings are published more widely. Historically, CMI reports were published but in 2002 the CMI also started reporting developments in the form of Working papers, allowing information to be disseminated quickly and facilitate feedback and consultation. |
| Enquiries: | info@cmib.org.uk |
The Economic and Social Data Service (ESDS)
| Website: | http://www.esds.ac.uk/ |
| Type of data: | A national data archiving and dissemination service. The ESDS works collaboratively to provide preservation, dissemination, user support and training for an extensive range of key economic and social data, both quantitative and qualitative, spanning many disciplines and themes. |
| Access: | To download any data you must register with ESDS, agree to an End User Licence (EUL) and provide details of your intended use. For further information see: http://www.esds.ac.uk/aandp/access/access.asp |
| Enquiries: | help@esds.ac.uk or contact page |
HESonline (Hospital Episode Statistics)
| Website: | http://www.hesonline.nhs.uk/ |
| Type of data: | The national statistical data warehouse for England of the care provided by NHS hospitals and for NHS hospital patients treated elsewhere. HES is the data source for a wide range of healthcare analysis for the NHS, government and many other organisations and individuals. |
| Access: | Much data is available for downloading on a self-service basis. Customised reports can also be requested. |
| Enquiries: | enquiries@ic.nhs.uk |