Services to researchers
The libraries of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries 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 journals of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries 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.
Mendeley - a free tool to help you manage your references
- Download from www.mendeley.com
- A free account enables you to download the iPhone/iPad app and work remotely
- An add-in in MS Word enables you to select citations as you go and populate your bibliography automatically
- See free tutorial
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
The ft.com/marketsdata website allows users to select data from its archive of indices for a specified date. Select historic data by date from pull-down menus, for example, 'Equities' (for shares indices) and 'Bonds & Rates' (for gilts indices). This may provide FTSE indices you need before considering application to the library service for data as outlined below:
| Download schedule of data and application form. | |
| Type of data: |
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| Source: | FTSE International Limited (FTSE). FTSE (R) is a trade mark of the London Stock Exchange Group companies and is used by FTSE under license. All rights in the FTSE indices and/or ratings vest in FTSE and/or its licensors. Neither FTSE nor its licensors accept any liability for any errors or omissions in the FTSE indices and/or FTSE ratings or underlying data. No further distribution of FTSE data is permitted without FTSE's express written consent. |
| Access: | Members may use the data to assist with non-commercial research for an IFoA Working Party, Committee or for academic research. Please see the application form for further details. |
| 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 |