1 Department of Methodology and Statistics Current practice Research Master Our views on EMOS Laurence E. Frank Peter G.M. van der Heijden Joop J. Hox Herbert Hoijtink

2 Overview  Department of Methodology and Statistics  Organisation and Expertise  Programs Research Master PhD  Our view on contribution to EMOS  Collaboration with Statistics Netherlands (CBS)  Courses, PhD projects, Statistical consultancy  Needs and Offers Statistics Netherlands Knowledge Learning & Development Research Innovation

3 Department of Methodology and Statistics  Main research areas: Methodology, Statistics, Applied Bayesian Statistics  Strong interconnection between Methodology (research design and data collection) and Statistics (development of advanced statistical techniques)  45 people, 6 professors, 10 PhD students  Provides majority statistics courses in bachelor and master for all programs in Faculty of Social Sciences  Research Master (2 years) Methodology and Statistics in the Behavioural and Social Sciences  Substantial part of our research funded by grants from NWO (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific research)

4 Department of Methodology and Statistics Close connections with Public Institutions (funding and collaboration):  Statistics Netherlands (CBS): funding, courses, statistical consultancy  Research and Documentation Centre of the Ministry of Justice  Welfare Directory of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment  TNO funds a chair in Applied Statistics in Prevention  MOA (Market Research Association) funds a chair in the Quality of Survey Research

5 Chairs related to Official Statistics Statistics in the Behavioural and Social Sciences Prof. Peter G.M. van der Heijden  capture-recapture, categorical data analysis, randomized response (sensitive questions in surveys) Social Science Methodology Prof. Joop J. Hox  data quality in social surveys, survey nonresponse, interviewer effects, missing data problems, multilevel modeling Survey Methodology Prof. Edith D. de Leeuw  mixed-mode surveys, nonresponse, online surveys, interviewing special groups, survey quality, methods of data collection

6 Chairs related to Official Statistics Business Survey Methodology Prof. Ger J.M.E. Snijkers  methodology, surveys, business surveys, questionnaire design and pre-testing, nonresponse, contact strategy Applied Statistics in Prevention Prof. Stef van Buuren (TNO funding)  multiple imputation, response conversion (application of IRT in health surveys to improve comparability of existing health information), project coordination EC, DG Sanco, statistical aspects of child growth (consultation WHO) SN funding

7 Research Master  Start 2006: first accredited 2-year master program (120 EC) in this field in the Netherlands  "Behavioural and Social Sciences", but... acquired knowledge and skills useful in broad spectrum of application areas  Unique combination Methodology and Statistics  small-group, personal teaching  Job opportunities  PhD in Methodology and Statistics  PhD in other Behavioural Science field  Methodologist / Statistician in research institute, government organistation, Statistics Netherlands, NGO, private enterprise Methodology and Statistics in the Behavioural and Social Sciences

8 Research Master: overview courses (year 1) Fundamental skills & knowledge  Multivariate Statistics  Foundations of Statistics  Statistical programming with R Methodology and research designs  Advanced Survey Methodology  Advanced experimental and quasi experimental designs (year 2) Broad spectrum of statistical models  Categorical data analysis and psychometrics  Introduction to multilevel analysis (mixed models) and structrural equation modeling  Advanced Topics (Bayesian statistics, handling missing data, business survey methodology) Elective course

9 Research Master: overview courses (year 2)  Traineeship  Research seminar I, II  Master thesis  format: scientific paper, ready to submit to peer reviewed international journal  Examples Traineeship at Statistics Netherlands + thesis  Incentives for Businesses: an empirical study (2009)  Making use of multiple imputation to analyse heaped data (2010)

10 PhD projects related to Official Statistics Current projects:  Tailoring to the MAX: using new IC technology to increase data quality and efficiency in panel surveys Funded by Statistics Netherlands:  Restrictive imputation of incomplete survey data  Nonresponse and nonresponse bias  Motivation of respondents in Business surveys (vacancy) Completed projects:  Analyzing missclassified data: Randomized response and post randomization  Difficult groups in survey research and the development of tailor- made approach strategies

11 Our views on EMOS  Many courses of our Research Master might be of interest for EMOS students  Preference for one-semester courses (15 weeks) instead of short modules (allows in-depth covarage of topics)  Use technology for long distance learning, learn from experiences Joint Program in Survey Methodology (US)

12 Possible model for UU participation in EMOS Solves problem of housing, “cheap” model in which many countries can participate  students are registered in country where they reside + pay fees (solves problem of large differences between tuition fees in EU countries)  only accredited courses can be followed (Bologna)  students follow part of the courses in own country (e.g. sampling)  students follow part of courses abroad when course is on a specialised topic (use long distance learning technology)  internship / master thesis preferably in other than own country  students obtain master diploma in their own country + additional EMOS certificate  management board that checks the quality and content of the courses on a regular basis (easier for universities/institutes to recognise courses given by other parties)

13 Future ambitions Other collaborations we are currently exploring:  Erasmus Mundus “Applied Statistics for Public Decision Making” (Budapest, Ljubliana, Palermo). Focus on educational testing, biostatistics, forensic statistics, environmental statistics

14 Collaboration with Statistics Netherlands Research  SN funds a chair in Business Survey Methodology and 3 PhD projects Education  traineeships+master theses  Statistics Netherlands Award for best thesis  courses given for SN employees by UU  courses given by SN employees Statistical consultancy  collaboration (part-time appointments two staff members) to prepare 2011 Census

15 Needs of Statistics Netherlands  Courses in  Data collection (e.g. electronic data collection methods, measuring the quality of the response)  Throughput  Register methodology (e.g. use of administrative registers in the production of statistics)  Measuring the economy (e.g. time series)  Analysis & Output (e.g. longitudinal analysis, multilevel analysis, data visualisation)  Estimation (e.g. small area estimators)

16 Needs of Statistics Netherlands  A university near Statistics Netherlands that offers (part of the) courses for our needs

17 Offers of Statistics Netherlands  Survey of Statistical Methods  Description of validated statistical methods that are in use at Statistics Netherlands for the entire statistical process  About 35 papers with approximately 1350 pages  Books on  survey theory  sampling theory  non-response correction  price index theory  statistical data editing and imputation  statistical disclosure control  web surveys

18 Offers of Statistics Netherlands  Courses we could contribute to  Non-response correction  Statistical disclosure control  National Accounts  Data visualisation  Metadata  Editing and imputation  Sampling theory

19 Information  Department of Methodology and Statistics  Research master program:  Statistics Netherlands