Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4
INTRODUCTION 9
Background 9
History of CODES 10
Interest in Data Linkage in the Transportation Safety Field 11
Purpose 12
METHODS 13
Theoretical Framework 13
Data Collection 15
Primary Data Collection 15
Secondary Data Collection 16
Data Analysis 16
Survey 16
Focus Groups 17
Traffic Records Assessments 18
Bibliography 18
Synthesis of Data Sources 18
RESULTS 19
Community Context 19
Lead Agency/Convener Group 19
Coalition Membership 20
Leadership and Staffing 22
Pooled Member and External Resources 23
Technical Assistance and Training 23
Funding 24
Member Engagement 26
Implementation of Strategies/Information Technology Infrastructure 29
Databases/Data Sources 29
Linking Techniques 31
Staff Capabilities 33
Outcomes 34
Linkage Success 34
Products from Analyses of Linked Datasets 34
Community Capacity 36
DISCUSSION 38
General Findings 38
Common Themes 38
Facilitators 38
Barriers 40
Use of Theory 41
Limitations 41
Conclusions 42
Acknowledgments 43
References 45
Attachment A. State participation in study 48
Attachment B. Questionnaire for Study 49
Attachment C. Focus Group Script 59
Attachment D. Bibliography 65
Table 1. Measurement of Relevant Constructs 14
Table 2. Time period when State started linking data 19
Table 3. Agency type by responsibility for function in linkage program 20
Table 4. Percentage of States by CODES status and training areas received 23
Table 5. Agency or other coalition member by frequency of interaction 27
Table 6. Frequency of data requests from outside organizations 27
Table 7. Data request frequency by length of time linkage project has been in place 28
Table 8. Frequency of sharing data with other organizations 28
Table 9. Proficiency in linking by software type 33
Table 10. Proficiency in analysis by relevant software type 34
Table 11. Places where linked data have been presented or published 35
Figure 1. Percentage of States listing organization as a member of board of advisors or directors 21
Figure 2. Funding sources for State linkage systems 25
Figure 3. Challenges in obtaining data for linkage 30
Figure 4. Lag time estimates in months to receive data from your State data partners 31
Figure 5. Reported challenges in linking data by number of States reporting 32
Figure 6. Reported challenges in analyzing linked data by number of States reporting 33