The Samples of Anonymized Records (SARs) from the 1991 UK census have proved an outstanding achievement for social science research. Research based on the SARs has taken advantage of the large sample size, the detailed geography, the wide range of socio-demographic variables and the operational flexibility. A wide range of areas has been covered including sociology, human geography and public health. The new SARs from the 2001 UK census will provide an even richer source of information. The availability of the SARs from the two censuses will provide a unique opportunity for studying socio-economic cultural and demographic changes in the UK over the decade and for conducting international comparisons. This article reviews the data structure of the SARs, summarizes some of the most innovative and important findings using the 1991 SARs, and looks at the research potential of the 2001 SARs. The purpose of the article is to encourage even greater use of the SARs.
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