1. The Research Data Centre Program
Microdata Access Division
Heather Hobson
April 23, 2009

2. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Presentation outline
Origin of the RDC Program
Mission
What is the RDC network?
What is an RDC?
How is access to data obtained?
Data holdings
The range of available datasets
Protecting confidentiality
Future plans
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/06/2018

3. Origin of the RDC Program
Report from the Canadian Initiative on Social Statistics (1998)
Important gaps:
Lack of researchers mastering the data analysis techniques in social sciences
Limited use of Statistics Canada’s surveys – absence of PUMF for longitudinal data
Examples: SLID, NPHS, NLSCY
Research findings are not communicated enough
Development of the RDC network started in
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/06/2018

4. Mission of the RDC Program
Promote and facilitate social science research
Provide secure access to Statistics Canada’s confidential micro-data survey files
Protect confidentiality of respondents
Disseminate findings of research to the policy community and the public
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/06/2018

5. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
What is the RDC Network?
It is a partnership that includes:
More than 40 Canadian universities
Major Granting Councils (SSHRC, CIHR, CFI)
Provincial governments
Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/06/2018

6. What is a Research Data Centre ?
Secure environment in a setting that is removed from Statistics Canada premises
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
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/06/2018

7. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
General principle
Researchers from participating institutions do not pay for access to an RDC
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/06/2018

8. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Toronto
COOL
U. Sask.
Moncton
SFU and
U. Victoria
Sudbury
Laval
McGill
Sherbrooke
UQAM
CIQSS
Queen’s
U. Manitoba
UWO
Atlantic
CRISP
McMaster
SWORDC
Prairies
Alberta
BCIRDC
QICSS
U. Windsor
York U.
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/06/2018

9. How do researchers gain access to the RDCs
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/06/2018

10. Access to the Research Data Centres (Academic researchers)
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
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/06/2018

11. Evaluation Criteria – academic researchers
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 have the experience, qualifications, and expertise to successfully complete the proposed project?
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/06/2018

12. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Access to the Research Data Centres (Federal/Provincial/Territorial researchers)
Project proposal, “reviewed” by designated official (either Director General research for federal departments, or statistical focal point for provinces and territories)
The work is to be performed by an employee (or contract employee) of the federal department or the provincial/territorial government
Proposal evaluation - STC
Security clearance - enhanced reliability check
Orientation session and “oath of office”
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/06/2018

13. Evaluation Criteria – federal, provincial, territorial researchers
The work is statistical in nature.
The work requires access to the specified data file(s), and cannot be accomplished using publicly available data files or published statistical information.
The work can be completed using the specified data file(s) within the time frame specified.
The work can not be quickly and efficiently completed by Statistics Canada employees.
No data sharing agreement exists within the requesting department with respect to the dataset for which access is required.
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/06/2018

14. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Data holdings
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/06/2018

15. Sample of data available in the RDCs
Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS) 
Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)
2007
Cycle 3.1
Cycle 2.1 Cycle Nutrition
Cycle 1.1 Cycle Mental Health and Well-being
 Census of Population
2001, 1996, 1991
Ethnic Diversity Survey (EDS)
General Social Survey (GSS)
Access to and Use of Information Communication Technology
Education, Work and Retirement
Family
Health
Social Engagement
Social Support and Aging
Time Use
Victimization
Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada (LSIC)
National Graduates Survey (NGS) 
National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY)
National Population Health Survey (NPHS)
Household Component - Cross-sectional
Household Component - Longitudinal
North Component
Health Institutions Component
National Survey on the Work and Health of Nurses (NSWHN)
Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS)
Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID)
Survey on the Vitality of Official Language Minorities (SVOLM)
Workplace and Employee Survey (WES)
Youth in Transition Survey (YITS)
Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)   
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10/06/2018

16. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/06/2018

17. Developments specific to the ARDC
User group
Brown bag lunch presentations
Beginner-level workshops in analyzing data using SPSS, SAS and Stata in the fall
Graduate-level course STAT5640
Website under development
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/06/2018

18. Challenges and future directions
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10/06/2018

19. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Today’s Challenges
Add to the Census data holdings in the RDCs
Add administrative data to the holdings in the RDCs
Coordination with different modes of access
Access to international data and by international researchers
Continued growth of the network
Publication of research
Link all the RDCs by a secure wide area network
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/06/2018

20. Major initiatives for the future
Add administrative data linked to survey data
Add historical census data
Fully document the data holdings using DDI compliant technology
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/06/2018

21. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
To learn more …
Heather Hobson
Analyst, Atlantic Research Data Centre
Microdata Access Division
Statistics Canada
Telephone:
Fax:
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/06/2018