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
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.

3. University of Colorado
Katie Genadek, PhD
RMRDC Administrator
University of Colorado
IBS Room 423

5. 9 in 2009 and 24 in 2016

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Advantages Provided to Research:
--Microdata not available publicly
firms and establishments
individuals and households (especially longitudinal studies)
children
--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

10. 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

11. Requirements for Any FSRDC Project:
--Research projects must undergo a formal approval process with the agency that owns the data, e.g., Census, NCHS, AHRQ, 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

12. RMRDC: The Physical Facility
Projected Opening: 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Proposal Differences by Agency:
Census
NCHS and AHRQ
Time to Approval
3 months on average
1-3 months on average
Benefit to Agency
PPS Required
Not Required
Fee
None
$1200 min extract fee NCHS
$300 AHRQ*
Scope
Broad (max of 30 pages)
Precise

16. 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

17. Economic data available in RDCs
Microdata not available elsewhere
Detailed geographies and industries
Data linked over time
Employee and employer linked data
Full business register for the US
Can link own data to individual businesses

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

19. Examples of Economic Microdata
Data Sets
Frequency
Unit of Enumeration
Availability
Census of Auxiliary Establishments (AUX)
Every 5 Years
Establishment
1977–2012
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)
Census of Services (CSR)
Census of Transportation, Communications, and Utilities (CUT)
Census of Wholesale Trade (CWH)

20. includes Health Care and Social Assistance Enterprises NAICS code 62
Census of Services--
includes Health Care and Social Assistance Enterprises
NAICS code 62
2012 Number of Establishments in U.S.: 831,303
Receipts/Revenues ($1,000): 2,040,441,203
Summary table: ew.xhtml?src=bkmk
North American Industry Classification System NAICS

21. Linked Employer Household Dynamics (LEHD)
LEHD data combine administrative data from states’ Unemployment Insurance systems with Census Bureau data.
Workers: Employer history and quarterly wages, Individual characteristics (sex, age, race), Point in time residence and place of birth
Employers: Industry, employment, total payroll, location
Linkages between workers and employers
Links to other Census data
The key is that you can link the worker and employer information to other data sets – economic or demographic.

22. Census Data: Demographic data available in RDCs
More geographic detail—usually block group or tract
Additional variables
More observations
Variables not censored (income)
Additional detail within variables

23. Data Available Decennial Censuses
Yearly ACS (American Community Survey)
Current Population Survey Supplements
American Housing Survey
Survey of Income and Program Participation
National Crime Victimization Survey
National Longitudinal Mortality Study
National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS)

24. Yearly ACS (American Community Survey)
Decennial Censuses
full count short form and 17% long form
Long form: Household and individual level demographic, socio-economic, program participation, education, household characteristics, etc
2010 short form only
Yearly ACS (American Community Survey)
Annual full samples % of US population
Replaced Long form from 2000 decennial + a few extra questions

25. Current Population Survey Supplements
ASEC (Annual Social and Economic Supplement) or March
Fertility Supplement ( ), Food Security ( ), School enrollment ( ), Tobacco Use ( ), Unbanked ( ), Volunteer ( ), Voter Reg ( )
American Housing Survey
Some years from ; ~50,000 households per year
Core questions: Home condition, occupant characteristics, home improvements, housing costs, home values, characteristics of recent movers, etc
Topical questions vary by year

26. Survey of Income and Program Participation
2-4 year household panels; interviews ~every 4 months; ; 14,000 to 52,000 households each wave
Core: labor force, income dynamics, government transfers
Topical modules vary
National Crime Victimization Survey
Yearly ; ~90,000 households
Non-fatal and property crimes, reported and unreported; demographic information for respondent; demographic information of perpetrator

27. National Longitudinal Mortality Study
CPS-ASEC data linked to national death index
CPS cohorts
National Longitudinal Survey (NLS)
Original cohorts (1966, 1968)
Labor market, demographic, and other data collected over 35 years
~5,000 respondents per cohort

28. Health Restricted Data:
More geographic detail
Additional variables
Child data (under 18 years)
Additional detail within variables

29. Restricted Health Data and Variables
Geographic Codes for all NCHS Surveys
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
National Health Care Surveys
National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS)
National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS)
National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS) and National Nursing Assistant Survey (NNAS)
National Home and Hospice Care Survey (NHHCS) and National Home Health Aide Survey (NHHAS)
National Survey of Residential Care Facilities (NSRCF)
National Study of Long-Term Care Providers (NSLTCP)
National Hospital Care Survey (NHCS)

30. National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG)
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)

31. 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
National Maternal and Infant Health Survey

32. Some major health data sources:
Survey data
NHANES
NHIS
NSCH
AHRQ Survey data
MEPS-HC
MEPS-IC
Health Care Survey data
NAMCSs
NHDS
Administrative data
Vital Records
Linked Data
Mortality Data Products
Medicare Enrollment and Claims Data
Medicaid Enrollment and Claims Data
Social Security Benefit History Data

33. 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

34. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999-2014
National 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

35. 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
Studies that compare ADHD kids to non-ADHD in diet, activity, family structure.
Racial disparities in toxic heavy metals show non-Hispanic blacks significantly more likely across all age groups.

36. National Health Interview Survey, 1993-2015
Annual Sample that is Nationally and Regionally Representative
Family, Household and Person Self-Report Data
Extensive Health and Social Psychological Measures including
Depression, anxiety
Other Mental Health Conditions
Other Emotional or Behavioral Problems

37. 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
Researchers at Columbia University: Neeraj Kaushal; Julia Wang
Local and state public deportation enforcement data
Linked with Restricted National Health Interview Survey (NHIS),
includes detailed health behaviors, health and mental health outcomes for Mexican immigrants
Includes state and local geographic identifiers
Researchers at UC Boulder—Early Life Mortality—NDI linked with NHIS, ,464 records, 734 deaths.
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)

38. Exposures to Fine Particulate Air Pollution and Respiratory Outcomes in Adults Using Two National Datasets: A Cross-sectional Study
Researchers: Keeve Nachman and Jennifer Parker
Datasets: NHIS, EPA Air Data System (External- Linked using geocode)
--Evaluates the relationship between air pollution and asthma across race/ethnicity…
--Revealed significant associations for non-Hispanic blacks but not for Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites

39. 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
Established differences between married and non-married and child health; Married; cohabiting step families; single parent, extended kin families
Linked with public data on state-level family and welfare policies

40. Medical Expenditure Panel Survey--Insurance Component (AHRQ and Census),
Public (govt) and private sector employers ~40,000 each year
Asks about insurance plans offered
Asks about contributions provided by employers and employees
Can be linked with Census business data
Used to document changes in employer-provided insurance before and after ACA

41. Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys—Household Component (AHRQ)
Annual sample of households from prior year NHIS
30,000 persons, 14,000 households
Health services used, frequency, charges and source of payments
Access to care and quality of care
Panel design over 2 years
Medical Provider Component supplements Household Component
Detailed charge and payment data
Hospitals, physicians, home health care providers, and pharmacies
The Household Component provides data from individual households and their members, which is supplemented by data from their medical providers.  A set of large-scale surveys of families and individuals, their medical providers (doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, etc.), and employers across the United States. MEPS collects data on the specific health services that Americans use, how frequently they use them, the cost of these services, and how they are paid for, as well as data on the cost, scope, and breadth of health insurance held by and available to U.S. workers.

42. National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys
Sample of physicians, 1 week of visits, randomly sampled
Patient demographics, symptoms, diagnoses and medications ordered, number of visits in past year
Physician demographics, type and size of practice, specialty
Zip code
Misuse and Abuse of Prescription Opioids
Evaluates effectiveness of State Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP) in reducing physician prescribed opioids
NAMCSs identifies patient visits for pain-related reasons resulting in opioid prescription
Is trend reduced after adoption of PDMP?

43. Useful Websites Restricted NCHS Data
Restricted AHRQ Data