Background and objectives: To highlight the potential of multiple file record linkage. Linkage increases the value of existing information by supplying missing data or correcting errors in existing data, through generating important covariates, and by using family information to control for unmeasured variables and expand research opportunities.
Methods: Recent Manitoba papers highlight the use of linkage to produce better studies. Specific ways in which linkage helps deal with different substantive issues are described.
Results: Wide data files-files containing considerable amounts of information on each individual-generated by linkage improve research by facilitating better design. Nonexperimental work in particular benefits from such linkages. Population registries are especially valuable in supplying family data to facilitate work across different substantive fields.
Conclusion: Several examples show how record linkage magnifies the value of information from individual projects. The results of observational studies become more defensible through the better designs facilitated by such linkage.
Keywords: Covariates; Design; Family data; Observational studies; Registries; Research possibilities.
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