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Canadian Initiative on Social Statistics (CISS) Data Training Schools
Context
Description
Objectives
Eligibility
Value and Duration
Evaluation and Adjudication
More Information
Context
The Canadian Initiative on Social
Statistics (CISS) is a co-operative project of SSHRC and Statistics
Canada. Its aim is to promote research and training in the application
of social statistics.
Statistics Canada has developed a rich and unique set of data collection
instruments and data sets, which provide the country with an excellent
statistical base of information on critical social and socio-economic
issues for which there is an increasing demand on the part of policy makers.
A great deal of this valuable data is under-utilized because of Canada's
lack of a national capacity to analyze them fully, which results from
a lack of training. This problem is compounded by researchers' difficulties
in accessing highly detailed files, due to Statistics Canada's legal responsibility
to protect the confidentiality of individually identifiable responses.
Against this backdrop lies a pressing need for current social statistics
to sustain the increasing demand for evidence-based decision-making.
Description
The Data Training Schools (DTS) serves postsecondary institution researchers, graduate
and undergraduate students, policy analysts and data librarians. DTS courses
cover topics in quantitative methods and the use of Canadian micro-data.
The DTS initiative contributes to increasing the number of researchers
engaged in quantitative research.
Objectives
Data Training Schools offer short courses in social data analysis, which
are adapted to Canadian data and research concerns. These include a series
of intermediate level courses in data analysis as well as more advanced
courses in the analysis of longitudinal and/or multilevel data. The specific
objectives of the DTS courses are to:
-
increase participants' awareness of, and familiarity with, currently
available Statistics Canada data and surveys;
-
teach participants how to use and apply specific techniques to real
data, which means they can manage data, scale variables, create composite
variables, handle missing data, use design weights and use more
complex statistical methods appropriate to the analysis of longitudinal
or multilevel data sets;
-
build expertise that focuses on Canadian issues and Canadian data;
and
-
aid in the identification of policy questions that can be illuminated
through quantitative research.
Eligibility
Format
A DTS must be hosted in a Canadian postsecondary institution for no less
than seven days. Sessions should be intensive and focus on formats that
encourage the active contribution of all participants.
Course Participants
Participation in the DTS should be open to Canadian postsecondary institution researchers,
as well as researchers and policy analysts from public and not-for-profit
research organizations, graduate and undergraduate students and data librarians.
Resource Personnel
DTS resource personnel, including course instructors, main speakers and
discussion leaders may be Canadian and/or foreign. Statistics Canada employees
will act as technical resource people by providing information and advice
on how to use Statistics Canada surveys and data sets.
Applicants/Organizers
Eligible applicants include research groups, departments and centres
that are operating in a Canadian postsecondary institution.
Institutions that propose to administer any grant awarded under this program must meet the requirements for managing SSHRC funds and must hold or obtain institutional eligibility.
Value and Duration
The program offers three awards. Each is valued at up to $50,000 annually
for three years.
Eligible expenses include:
- travel and accommodation for resource personnel and course attendees
(excluding Statistics Canada personnel);
- administrative expenses related to the organization of the DTS; and
- fees paid to main speakers and course instructors, but not to attendees or Statistics Canada personnel.
Evaluation and Adjudication
An adjudication committee of experts, selected by SSHRC, evaluate all applications to host a DTS. Proposals
are evaluated according to five criteria:
- the correspondence of the proposed DTS to the overall objectives of
the program as stated above;
- the competence and expertise of the proposed resource personnel, specifically
the course instructors, main speakers and discussion leaders;
- the quality of the program proposed for the DTS;
- the significant participation of students and all types of researchers;
and
- the appropriateness of the budget and the value-for-money.
More Information
Please address questions concerning the CISS Data Training Schools program
to:
Mika Oehling
Program Officer
Strategic Programs and Joint Initiatives Division
SSHRC
350 Albert Street
P.O. Box 1610
Ottawa, ON K1P 6G4
Tel.: 613-992-4227
Fax: 613-947-0223
E-mail: mika.oehling@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca