1. The Atlantic Research Data Centre
A Presentation to SHRUG
April 29, 2011

2. Summary of presentation
What is the Atlantic Research Data Centre?
What is the Research Data Centre Program?
What data are available in the ARDC?
How do I apply for access?
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
08/11/2018

3. What is the Atlantic Research Data Centre?

4. The Atlantic Research Data Centre (ARDC):
Secure Statistics Canada environment in a university setting
Houses 100+ Statistics Canada microdata 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”
My role:
- to instruct researchers how to protect the confidentiality of survey respondents
- to help researchers detect potential disclosure issues
- to be a final check on all output leaving the RDC.
I am there to help you with questions you may have about the data files. You should continue to use the support of your own Departmental computer lab if you have questions about SAS, SPSS, etc. The RDC analyst is your link to the data specialists in Ottawa
The Research Data Centres (RDC) program is part of an initiative by Statistics Canada and SSHRC as well as universities to help strengthen Canada's social research capacity and to support the policy research community.
Master microdata files with full survey content excluding names and addresses of respondents. There are no suppressed variables.
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08/11/2018

5. The Atlantic Research Data Centre (ARDC):
Located on the Main Floor Learning Commons, Killam Library
10 workstations
Statistical software:
SAS
SPSS, STATA, HLM
ARCGIS, LISREL, Westvar
Matlab, AMOS, SPlus, R
Mplus, EQS, Kedit, XLStat
Hours: M-F 8:00-4:00
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08/11/2018

6. Developments specific to the ARDC
User group
Brown bag lunch presentations
Beginner- and intermediate-level workshops in analyzing data using SAS, SPSS and Stata during the fall and winter terms
Graduate-level course STAT5640
Website:
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
08/11/2018

7. What is the Research Data Centre Program?

8. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
The Atlantic Research Data Centre (ARDC) and the Research Data Centre (RDC) Program:
The ARDC is part of the RDC network. Born of the Canadian Initiative on Social Statistics (1998). It is a partnership that includes:
More than 40 Canadian universities
Major Granting Councils (SSHRC, CIHR, CFI)
Provincial governments
Statistics Canada
Designed to promote access to microdata for the purposes of supporting social survey analysis and to promote training in the use of microdata for data analysis
The creation of a national system of Research Data Centres(RDCs) was one of several recommendations made by the Joint Working Group set up by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and Statistics Canada.
It highlighted three significant barriers to developing research capacity in social statistics:
1.      Lack of access to detailed micro-data
2.      Lack of trained researchers in significant numbers
3.      Weak links between social scientists and potential users of the knowledge they generate 
and recommended the establishment of the Research Data Centres
In January 2000, CFI awarded over $5 million to develop the infrastructure (secure, fully-equipped laboratories) for six regional RDCs, located on university campuses in Vancouver, Calgary, Waterloo, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. Statistics Canada provided a matching grant largely in the form of longitudinal survey data to be housed in the centres.
Three other universities also applied for provincial funding to open RDCs: McMaster University, the University of Alberta and the University of New Brunswick. McMaster RDC in Hamilton was the first to open its doors in December The eight other centres followed gradually over the next 12 months, and by the end of 2001 the RDC Network was underway.
In addition to university and local funding agency contributions to individual centres, the Network receives substantial financial support towards RDC infrastructure and running costs from major national granting councils:
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
08/11/2018

9. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
The network
BCIRDC
UBC
Simon Fraser
Victoria
Manitoba RDC
Manitoba
Yellowknife
Alberta RDC
CIQSS
Montreal
Laval
Sherbrooke
McGill/Conc.
UQAM/INRS
SKY RDC
CRISP
UNB
Moncton
Prairie RDC
Calgary
Lethbridge
SWORDC
COOLRDC
FRDC
Atlantic RDC
Centre
Branch
Queen’s RDC
UWORDC
UWO
Windsor
Toronto RDC
Toronto
York
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
08/11/2018
McMaster RDC

10. What data are available in the Atlantic Research Data Centre?

11. Census of the Population
RDC Masterfiles
2006
2001
1996
1991
20% sample (long-form)
Canadian Century Research Infrastructure
1921
1931
1941
1951
1911,1961, 1971 & 1981 to come later
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08/11/2018

12. Topics covered in the recent Censuses:
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13. Some of Statistics Canada’s Longitudinal Surveys
National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY)
National Population Health Survey (NPHS)
Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID)
Youth in Transition Survey (YITS)
Master microdata files for surveys can be made available after approval of a research project. The centres will host any household or population data for approved project proposals.
For example
National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) Cycle 1/2/3/4/5/6
National Population Health Survey (NPHS) Cycle 1/2/3/4  
Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID) 1993 – 2002
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08/11/2018

14. National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY)
Major Focus: Determinants of child development.
Sample: Interview parents of 22,000 children in Canada starting in 1994 with follow-ups every two years.
Content for children/youth: Physical health, internalizing and externalizing behaviour, cognitive and language development, social outcomes. Determinants from individual, family, peers, school and community environments.
Content for parents: Labour force participation and health status and socio-demographic information.
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15. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
08/11/2018

16. National Population Health Survey (NPHS)
Major Focus: Examine the health status of Canadians and determinants of health
Sample: Longitudinal study of 20,000 Canadians started in 1994 with follow-ups every 2 years. Ages 0 and up. Most current cycle: Cycle 8 (2008)
Content focus: Health outcomes (i.e., disabilities, health status, chronic conditions) and determinants (i.e., physical activity, smoking, health care utilization).
Other Content: Labour force participation, education, income and socio-demographic characteristics.
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08/11/2018

17. Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID)
Major Focus: poverty and labour market fluctuations
Sample: Panel study of 30,000 working age Canadians begun in Each panel is in the survey for 6 years and a new panel is introduced every three years. Most recent cycle: 2008
Content Focus: labour market experiences of workers and related determinants.
Other Content: absences from work (i.e., reasons, dates, paid or unpaid) and activity limitations that may have an impact on their ability to perform their job.
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08/11/2018

18. Youth in Transition Survey
Longitudinal, now in its 5th cycle
Examines the major transitions, especially school-to-work transitions, in the lives of youth
2 cohorts, aged:
15 in 2000: age 23 in cycle 5 (Response rate: 78%)
18-20 in 2000: age in cycle 5 (Response: 80%)
The 15-year-old cohorts were also part of the Programme for International Student Assessment (Reading and Math/Science tests)
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08/11/2018

19. Additional data sets available in the RDC
Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS) 
Adult Education and Training Survey (AETS) 
Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)
Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (CTUMS)
Ethnic Diversity Survey (EDS)
Family Expenditures Survey (FES)
Food Expenditures Survey (FOODEX)
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
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08/11/2018

20. Additional data sets available in the RDC (2 of 2)
Labour Force Survey
Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada (LSIC)
Maternity Experiences Survey (MES)
National Graduates Survey (NGS)
National Survey of the Work and Health of Nurses
Ontario Material Deprivation Survey (OMDS)
Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS)
Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 
Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID)
Survey on the Vitality of Official-Language Minorities
Workplace and Employee Survey (WES)
Youth in Transition Survey (YITS)
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08/11/2018

21. Canadian Health Measures Survey
estimates the numbers of people with selected health conditions, characteristics, environmental exposures, risk factors and protection behaviours using direct health measures
Blood, urine, DNA samples
Topics covered:
Alcohol use; anthropometry; cardiovascular health; chronic conditions; lung function; medication use; musculoskeletal fitness; nutrition; oral health; physical activity; pregnancy and sexual health; sleep; smoking; and sun exposure
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08/11/2018

22. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
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08/11/2018

23. How do I apply to do research at the Atlantic Research Data Centre?

24. Contents of Proposal – 5 pages
Title of project
Rationale and objectives of study
Proposed data analysis & software requirements
Data requirements
Why is it necessary to use microdata rather than Public Use Microdata File available through DLI?
Expected start and end dates
Products: Working paper; journal article; book/chapter; thesis; commissioned report
References
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08/11/2018

25. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada OR
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26. Application process and guidelines
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27. STAT5640: Advanced Analysis of Complex Survey Data
An interdisciplinary forum for students to address a specific research question or a methodological-statistical issue using a Statistics Canada microdata set.
Under the guidance of the course coordinator and a disciplinary-based faculty mentor, students develop expertise in a variety of applied methodological-statistical procedures, such as the use of weighted data, calculation of estimates of standard errors through bootstrapping techniques, and developing and interpreting statistical explanatory models.
The end product is a paper which could be part of a student's thesis.
After undergoing the standard security checks conducted by Statistics Canada, students will have access to specific data set(s) throughout the academic year.
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
08/11/2018

28. To learn more about the RDC program…
To learn more about the activities at the ARDC…
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08/11/2018

29. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Contact Information
Heather Hobson
Analyst, Atlantic Research Data Centre
Microdata Access Division
Statistics Canada
Telephone:
Fax:
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
08/11/2018