1. The Rocky Mountain Research Data Center
Advancing the Frontiers of Social Science: Opportunities and Challenges
Jani Little, Executive Director
Katie Genadek, Expected Administrator
The Rocky Mountain Research Data Center
Jani Little, Executive Director
Katie Genadek, Administrator
The Rocky Mountain Federal Statistical Research Data Center
(RMRDC)
Jani Little
Executive Director

2. What is a Federal Statistical Research Data Center (FSRDC)?
--A secure computing lab where restricted data, collected by federal agencies, can be accessed FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES ONLY
--Made possible by a contractual agreement between a leading research institution and the U.S. Census Bureau
--The Census Bureau’s Center for Economic Studies (CES) directs all FSRDCs and the FSRDC Program
--FSRDCs are managed by an on-site Census employee—the administrator— who guides researchers on proposal development, enforces security guidelines, and serves as liaison with the research community.

4. 9 in 2009 and 24 in 2016

5. The RMRDC Consortium Partner Members: Supporting Members:
UC Colorado Springs
Colorado State Government
Colorado School of Mines
National Center for Atmospheric Research
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

6. Partner Consortium Members Faculty, Grad Students, and Affiliated Researchers:
Free access to RMRDC services and secure laboratory
Researchers with continued use are expected to write grant proposals and include lab fees

7. Advantages to Researchers and Institutions:
--Greatly expands the policy and basic questions that can be addressed
--Builds on past research findings with richer data
--Improves competitive edge for grants and publications
--Improves graduate education (big data/statistical techniques) and placement
--Attracts and retains data-intensive faculty

8. Advantages Provided to Research:
--Microdata not available publicly
firms and establishments
individuals and households (especially longitudinal studies)
--Variables not available in public versions of data sets
(e.g., low level geography)
--Full population counts or larger samples (Decennial Census, ACS, CPS)
--Full range of response items (e.g., industry codes, occupational codes, detailed race answers, income is not top-coded, etc.)
--Ability to make linkages
with external data (e.g., via geocodes, establishment ID, etc.)
between multiple internal data sets via non-public link keys

9. FSRDCs Used to Address Many Research Topics
Business, Trade, Finance, and Management
Crime and Crime Victimization
Demography, Population Distributions and Trends, Migration, and Immigration
Economics, Labor Markets, Entrepreneurship, Employment and Industry
Education and Education Policy
Hazard Mitigation, Environmental Impact Assessment, Pollution Abatement
Health and Well-Being, Health Insurance, Health Policy
Housing, Housing Markets, and Residential Patterns
Poverty, Social Welfare Policy, and Social Mobility
Transportation Analysis and Planning
Urban and Regional Economics and Planning
Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Manufacturing

10. RMRDC: The Physical Facility
Projected Opening: Early May, 2017
Location: IBS Building on CU Boulder Campus
--10 thin client workstations to access FSRDC servers
--Secure communications that tunnel over campus internet
--Contains the Administrator’s office
--Badge Reader at Entrance
--24/7 Security System with camera
--no electronic devices allowed
--NOTHING leaves the secure lab without approval

11. Major Partners in the FSRDC System
U.S. Census Bureau
Economic Data
Demographic Data
Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) Data
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Other Federal Partners

12. Examples of Economic Data
Data Set
Frequency
Unit of Enumeration
Availability
Longitudinal Business Database (LBD)
Annually
Establishment
1976–2014
Standard Statistical Establishment List/Business Register (SSEL)
1974–2013

13. Examples of Economic Data
Data Sets
Frequency
Unit of Enumeration
Availability
Census of Auxiliary Establishments (AUX)
Every 5 Years
Establishment
1977–2007
Census of Construction Industries (CCN)
1972–2012
Census of Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate (CFI)
1992–2012
Census of Manufactures (CMF)
1963,  1967–2012
Census of Mining (CMI)
1987–2012
Census of Retail Trade (CRT)
1977–2012
Census of Services (CSR)
Census of Transportation, Communications, and Utilities (CUT)
Census of Wholesale Trade (CWH)

14. Examples of Demographic Data
Data Set
Frequency
Unit of Enumeration
Availability
Sponsor
American Community Survey (ACS)
Annually
Housing Unit
1996–2015
Census Bureau
American Housing Survey (AHS)
1984–1999, 2001–2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015
Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Current Population Survey (CPS) Annual Social and Economic (ASEC) Supplement (March)
Household
1967–2015
Census Bureau and  Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Current Population Survey (CPS) Food Security Supplement (December)
2001–2012
Census Bureau and  U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Current Population Survey (CPS) School Enrollment Supplement
2004–2014
Census Bureau, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

15. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)
Decennial Census
Every Ten Years
Household
1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010
Census Bureau
National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)
Annually
2006–2014
Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)
National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) School Crime Supplement
Every two years
2013
Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), and National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
CVS asks several questions about school crime, which provide yearly information about crimes occurring at school or while traveling to or from school. In addition, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the Department of Education sponsor a School Crime Supplement every two years. This supplement asks crime victims ages 12 through 18 about crimes that occurred at school and other characteristics of school crime. The most recent supplement was administered in This supplement asks crime victims ages 12 through 18 about crimes that occurred at school and other characteristics of school crime. The most recent supplement was administered in 2013.

16. Detailed Geography Data Set Geography Decennial Census Block
American Community Survey (ACS)
Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)
Tract
Current Population Survey (CPS)
National Crime Victimization Survey
American Housing Survey (AHS)

17. Examples of Restricted Health Data
Geographic Codes for all NCHS Surveys
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey (SLAITS)
National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH)
National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN)

18. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
Provides prevalence data on selected diseases and risk factors of U.S. Population
Monitors trends in diseases, behaviors, and environmental exposures
Identifies emerging public health concerns
Provides national baseline information on health and nutrition

19. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999-2014
Nationally probability sample, approx. 10,000
Data collection from Mobile unit
Interview—acculturation, air quality, allergies, demographics, diet, cognitive functioning, physical activity, sleep disorder, smoking, social support, weight history, family background, food security,
alcohol use, bowel health, overall health, depression screening, pesticide exposure, reproductive health, exposure to chemicals, drug use, sexual behavior, etc
Physical exam — hearing, body measurements, balance, blood pressure, vision, heart, etc
Lab testing —blood, urine, oral rinse, etc

20. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) Restricted Data
Identifies geography below national level down to Census block
Youth -- Alcohol and Drug Use, ADHD, STDs, Mental Health Disorders, Depression, Sexual Behavior

21. Comparing Diet Quality, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behavior in Youth with and without ADHD
Researcher: Carol Curtin - University of Massachusetts Medical School
Restricted National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES)
Includes youth, ages 8-15, with and without ADHD
Anthropometric, dietary and activity measures include detailed family structure categories
ADHD and other behavioral health conditions assess using gold standard diagnostic

22. National Survey of Children’s Health
National telephone survey of households with at least 1 child,
N= 91,642
Demographics, Health and Functioning, Home Environment,
Early Childhood Care, Developmental Screening,
Adolescent School, Exercise, Emotional Difficulties
Family Functioning and Parental Health
Neighborhood and Community
All variables restricted
County and zip code geography available

23. National Health Interview Survey, Restricted Data
Country of Birth and Related Immigration Variables (Person File)
State and Year of Birth (Person File)
Industry and Occupation Codes
Detailed Race and Hispanic Origin (Person File)
Exact Dates (e.g., date of birth in Person File)
Low levels of geography from state down to tract

24. Early Life Mortality in the U. S. Elizabeth Lawrence, University of N
Early Life Mortality in the U.S. Elizabeth Lawrence, University of N. Carolina at Chapel Hill Rick Rogers, University of Colorado Boulder
NHIS-LMFs
246,464 records, 734 deaths
Restricted-use variables
Early life deaths (ages 0-17)
Exact dates (rather than quarters)
Age, day, month of birth, interview, and death
Detailed cause of death (beyond 10 categories)
New mortality linked files, when available
Geographic detail
50 states rather than 4 regions
Age top coding usually at ages 85+
Quarter of birth, interview, and death may be too broad for younger ages.
Some causes of death are perturbed
New matches, available this fall, will first be accessible only in an RDC
South generally experiences higher risk of death

25. NCHS Data Linkage Activities
Linked Mortality Data Products
Linked Medicare Enrollment and Claims Files Data
Linked Medicaid Enrollment and Claims Data
Linked Social Security Benefit History Data
National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) Data Release and Access Policy

26. Requirements for Any FSRDC Project:
--Research projects must undergo a formal approval process with the agency that owns the data, e.g., Census, NCHS, BLS
--Researchers must go through a background investigation that qualifies them for “Special Sworn Status (SSS)” which makes them an unpaid Census Bureau employee.
--Results must be formally reviewed for disclosure violation before they leave the secure facility.
Currently 260 active projects, 50% are Census

27. Components of Proposals:
--Personnel and Time frame
--Project Description (scientific merit, methods, feasibility, why requires restricted data)
--Dataset(s), Variables, Geography
--Results Expected and Disclosure Avoidance Strategies

28. FSRDC Server Software
GeoDa Tomlab Knittro Madd QGIS StatTransfer Python - Anaconda Fortran Perl Tex/LaTex
Gauss Stata Matlab & toolboxes PBS Pro Intel Composer XE NX Enterprise R  SAS SAS (Dataflux) SUDAAN

29. Useful Websites Census Bureau Data: Center for Economic Studies
NCHS Research Data Center
AHRQ

30. How and When Do I Get Started?
See materials at the RMRDC website, the CES website, NCHS website
Contact the RMRDC Director and Administrator for:
data availability
project budget and timeline
contact information
For Census projects, the Administrator will give invaluable guidance on
the proposal development process
the benefits to Census (PPS)
help navigate the project approval process

31. Contact Information:
Katie Genadek:
Jani Little: