the research data centre program microdata access division heather hobson april 23, 2009

The Research Data Centre Program

Microdata Access Division

Heather Hobson

April 23, 2009

23-04-20Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada2

Presentation outline

Origin of the RDC Program Mission What is the RDC network? What is an RDC? How is access to data obtained? Data holdings The range of available datasets Protecting confidentiality Future plans


Origin of the RDC Program

Report from the Canadian Initiative on Social Statistics (1998)

Important gaps:• Lack of researchers mastering the data analysis techniques in

social sciences• Limited use of Statistics Canada’s surveys – absence of PUMF

for longitudinal data• Examples: SLID, NPHS, NLSCY• Research findings are not communicated enough

Development of the RDC network started in 2000-2001


Mission of the RDC Program

Promote and facilitate social science research Provide secure access to Statistics Canada’s confidential

micro-data survey files Protect confidentiality of respondents Disseminate findings of research to the policy community and

the public


What is the RDC Network?

It is a partnership that includes:

More than 40 Canadian universities Major Granting Councils (SSHRC, CIHR, CFI) Provincial governments Statistics Canada


What is a Research Data Centre ?

Secure environment in a setting that is removed from Statistics Canada premises

Houses Statistics Canada micro data files Staffed by a Statistics Canada employee at all times Operates under the provisions of the Statistics Act Access limited to researchers with approved projects and

“sworn-in” under Statistics Act as “deemed employees” All researchers have direct access to the data


General principle

Researchers from participating institutions do not pay for access to an RDC


Toronto

COOL

U. Sask.

Moncton

SFU and

U. Victoria

Sudbury

Laval

McGill

Sherbrooke

UQAM

CIQSS

Toronto

Queen’s

U. Manitoba

UWO

COOL

Atlantic

CRISP

McMaster

SWORDC

Prairies

Alberta

BCIRDC

QICSS

U. Windsor

York U.

Toronto


How do researchers gain access to the RDCs


Access to the Research Data Centres(Academic researchers)

Project proposal Proposal evaluation - SSHRC Security clearance - enhanced reliability check Orientation session and “oath of office” Researcher agrees to provide publicly available report that

falls within Statistics Canada’s mandate


Evaluation Criteria – academic researchers

Necessity for access to detailed micro data and to the particular dataset(s) specified in proposal

Clearly defined project objectives Suitability of analytical and statistical methods Scientific merit of the project Do the applicant and the team members have the experience,

qualifications, and expertise to successfully complete the proposed project?


Access to the Research Data Centres(Federal/Provincial/Territorial researchers)

Project proposal, “reviewed” by designated official (either Director General research for federal departments, or statistical focal point for provinces and territories)

The work is to be performed by an employee (or contract employee) of the federal department or the provincial/territorial government

Proposal evaluation - STC Security clearance - enhanced reliability check Orientation session and “oath of office”


Evaluation Criteria – federal, provincial, territorial researchers

The work is statistical in nature. The work requires access to the specified data file(s), and

cannot be accomplished using publicly available data files or published statistical information.

The work can be completed using the specified data file(s) within the time frame specified.

The work can not be quickly and efficiently completed by Statistics Canada employees.

No data sharing agreement exists within the requesting department with respect to the dataset for which access is required.


Data holdings


Sample of data available in the RDCs

Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS)

Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2007Cycle 3.1 Cycle 2.1 Cycle 2.2 - Nutrition Cycle 1.1 Cycle 1.2 - Mental Health and Well-being

Census of Population2001, 1996, 1991

Ethnic Diversity Survey (EDS)

General Social Survey (GSS) Access to and Use of Information Communication Technology Education, Work and Retirement Family Health Social Engagement Social Support and Aging Time Use Victimization

Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada (LSIC)

National Graduates Survey (NGS)

National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY)

National Population Health Survey (NPHS) Household Component - Cross-sectional Household Component - Longitudinal North Component Health Institutions Component

National Survey on the Work and Health of Nurses (NSWHN)

Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS)

Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID)

Survey on the Vitality of Official Language Minorities (SVOLM)

Workplace and Employee Survey (WES)

Youth in Transition Survey (YITS)

Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)


http://www.statcan.gc.ca/rdc-cdr/data-donnee-eng.htm

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/rdc-cdr/data-donnee-fra.htm


Developments specific to the ARDC

User group Brown bag lunch presentations Beginner-level workshops in analyzing data

using SPSS, SAS and Stata in the fall Graduate-level course STAT5640 Website under development

http://atlanticresearchdatacentre.dal.ca/index.html

http://atlanticresearchdatacentre.dal.ca/index.html


Challenges and future directions


Today’s Challenges

Add to the Census data holdings in the RDCs Add administrative data to the holdings in the RDCs Coordination with different modes of access Access to international data and by international researchers Continued growth of the network Publication of research Link all the RDCs by a secure wide area network


Major initiatives for the future

Add administrative data linked to survey data Add historical census data Fully document the data holdings using DDI compliant

technology


To learn more …

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/rdc-cdr/index-eng.htm

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/rdc-cdr/index-fra.htm

Heather HobsonAnalyst, Atlantic Research Data CentreMicrodata Access DivisionStatistics CanadaEmail: [email protected]: 902-494-1545 Fax: 902-494-2758

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/rdc-cdr/index-eng.htm

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/rdc-cdr/index-fra.htm

the research data centre program microdata access division heather hobson april 23, 2009

Documents

statistics canada employee

social statistics

statistics actaccess

direct access

rdc network

detailed micro data

data analysis techniques

rdc programpromote