mai 2005 / 1

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

mai 2005 / 2

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

Joint SSHRC-Statistics Canada Task ForceJoint SSHRC-Statistics Canada Task ForceRecommendationsRecommendations

• Develop granting programs focused on quantitative quantitative researchresearch

• Promote research and training that emphasise social statistics

• Train the next generation of quantitative social researchers

• Create a system of research data centres

• Maximise the research-public policy interface and strengthen linkages between policy-makers and researchers

mai 2005 / 3

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

The Research ContinuumThe Research Continuum(secondary sources)(secondary sources)

mai 2005 / 4

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

What is the RDC Program?What is the RDC Program?

It is a partnership that includes:

• More than 40 Canadian universities

• SSHRC

• CFI

• Provincial governments and granting councils

• Statistics Canada

mai 2005 / 5

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

What is the mission of the RDC What is the mission of the RDC Program?Program?

• To promote and facilitate social science research that will benefit Canadian society and enhance Canada’s standing in the global community.

• To provide secured access to Statistics Canada social survey detailed micro data to researchers in regions across Canada.

• To visibly protect the confidentiality of respondents of Statistics Canada social surveys.

• To disseminate findings of social scientific research to the policy community and to the public.

mai 2005 / 6

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

How is the mission accomplished?How is the mission accomplished?

… by creating an environment that fosters fosters relevant researchrelevant research while maintaining

confidentiality and securityconfidentiality and security

mai 2005 / 7

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

What is a What is a university-baseduniversity-based Research Research Data Centre ?Data Centre ?

• Secure environment in a university setting

• 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

mai 2005 / 8

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

What is the Federal Research Data What is the Federal Research Data Centre?Centre?

• Secure social science research laboratory for employees of federal departments

• Houses Statistics Canada micro data files

• Staffed by a Statistics Canada employee at all times

• Operates under the provisions of the Statistics Act

• Supports two modes of access to the data

– Direct (at $3,500 per month)

– Indirect (at $5,500 per month)

• Located in Holland Cross

mai 2005 / 9

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

Why establish the Federal Research Why establish the Federal Research Data Centre?Data Centre?

• Provide centralized and systematic access to data ( detailed micro data not available any other way) for research purposes

• Provide support for data access and analytical support for employees of federal departments

• Create an environment similar to university RDCs in which researchers may exchange thoughts and ideas with their peers.

mai 2005 / 10

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

BCIRDC

Alberta

Pra

irie

Manitoba

Toronto

McM

aster

Waterloo

Western Queen’s RDC

CO

OL

RD

C &

FR

DC

CIQ

SS

CR

ISP

Atlantic

mai 2005 / 11

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

Fostering Relevant ResearchFostering Relevant Research

• Secure computing environment

• On-site Statistics Canada analyst - support

• Links to specialists in Ottawa– analytical support

– data support

• RDCs establish links with resources in the host institution

mai 2005 / 12

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

Confidentiality and SecurityConfidentiality and Security

Physical security of site equivalent to that in Statistics Canada.

Stand-alone computing system that has no link outside of Statistics Canada

Access limited to researchers with approved projects who have enhanced reliability check and are “sworn-in” under Statistics Act

mai 2005 / 13

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

Confidentiality and Security Confidentiality and Security (cont’d)(cont’d)

Orientation session and handbook

Statistics Canada analyst on-site

Disclosure risk analysis on all products

leaving the RDC

mai 2005 / 14

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

The roles of our partnersThe roles of our partners

• SSHRC– Manage the peer review process for applications to access the

data– Provide funding for the Network

• CIHR– Provide funding for the Network

• Universities– Provide the physical facilities– Participate in the management of the network (through the

RDC National Coordinating Committee)– Liaise with the research communities– Participate in knowledge mobilisation– Train the next generation of social science researchers

mai 2005 / 15

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

Detailed micro data – a sampleDetailed micro data – a sample

Family Expenditure Survey (FAMEX)

Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID)

Youth in Transition Survey (YITS)

National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY)

Workplace and Employee Survey (WES)

National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participation (NSGVP)

National Graduate Survey (NGS)

National Population Health Survey (NPHS)

Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)

Survey of Financial Security (SFS)

General Social Survey (GSS)

Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada (LSIC)

Ethnic Diversity Survey (EDS)

mai 2005 / 16

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

Access to the Research Data Access to the Research Data CentresCentres

• 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

mai 2005 / 17

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

Evaluation CriteriaEvaluation Criteria

• 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 (if applicable) have the experience, qualifications, and expertise to successfully complete the proposed project?

mai 2005 / 18

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

Growth in activity since the birth Growth in activity since the birth of the Programof the Program

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Dec-00 Dec-01 Dec-02 Dec-03 Oct-04 Apr-05

Completed

Rejected/Withdrawn

In evaluation

Active

mai 2005 / 19

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

Number of researchers with active Number of researchers with active projects in the RDCsprojects in the RDCs

117

266

905

Non-student Student (PI) Student (CI)

mai 2005 / 20

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

Number of published manuscripts Number of published manuscripts by general themeby general theme

29%

10%35%

26%

Health Child develpment Economics Other

mai 2005 / 21

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

Distribution of projects by data setsDistribution of projects by data sets

NLSCY/ELNEJ

CCHS/ESCC

NPHS/ENSP

SLID/EDTR

WES/EMTE

GSS/ESG

YITS/EJET

PISA

LSIC/ELIC

LFS/EPA

Other/Autres

Census/Recensement

0 50 100 150 200

mai 2005 / 22

Statistics Canada

Statistique Canada

To learn more … To learn more …

http://www.statcan.ca/francais/rdc/

http://www.statcan.ca/english/rdc/

rdc-cdr@statcan.ca

The endThe end