- Why are the Research Data Centres being established?
The establishment of the Research Data Centres (RDCs) is part of an initiative to help strengthen the country's social research capacity and to support the policy research community.
Statistics Canada has developed a number of major new longitudinal surveys-that is, surveys that track the responses of individuals over a period of time-that offer a much richer source of information for analysing social issues than do the traditional, more limited, cross-sectional surveys.
One of the difficulties with longitudinal data files, however, has been to find a way to produce public-use microdata files that contain sufficient detail for researchers, while safeguarding the privacy of our respondents. This issue has probably reduced the amount of analysis being conducted by the broader policy research community. In addition, a task force reported to Statistics Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) in January 1999 that there were further barriers to producing policy-relevant research in this country:
- a lack of trained researchers in the field of quantitative analysis;
- a lack of easy access to detailed microdata collected by Statistics Canada; and
- a lack of effective linkages between researchers and those involved in public policy development.
The Research Data Centres are expressly designed to overcome these obstacles, by making it possible to do essential social research, all while assuring the confidentiality and security of data.
- How will the Research Data Centres benefit Canadians?
Canada is going through a period of rapid social change. Decision makers-both inside and outside government-need an up-to-date and in-depth understanding of Canadian society to help them respond not only to today's needs, but to anticipate tomorrow's as well.
A number of Statistics Canada's longitudinal surveys have already made important contributions to policy debate in this country. With increased and improved research, many of the surveys promise to deliver even more insight on issues surrounding children, youth, a dynamic economy, health and health care, and Aboriginal peoples-issues that are important to Canadians and reflect themes raised in the last speech from the throne.
- Why will the RDCs be established at universities?
Many of the researchers who will submit proposals to the Research Data Centres hold positions in universities. In addition, it is anticipated that the Research Data Centres will allow the host universities and affiliated regional universities to attract top-quality social scientists, and will assist in the development of strong programs in a number of disciplines. Both principal researchers and research assistants will be involved in the use of the data. The centres could also support the training of graduate students (through work on research projects) in quantitative research in a number of disciplines, using the latest research techniques and data sources.
- What is being done to assure confidentiality and security of data?
The university-based centres will be, essentially, extensions of Statistics Canada offices, with a full-time Statistics Canada employee at each site to screen data and ensure compliance with confidentiality policies and procedures. The centres will operate under the same security provisions as any other Statistics Canada offices, including the use of physical access controls and stand-alone computers with no links outside Statistics Canada.
- Could I be identified by any of the data located at the centres?
No. All data sets have been stripped of personal details-such as names, addresses and phone numbers-that could be used to identify particular individuals.
- What prevents a researcher from removing data from an RDC?
Researchers whose projects are approved will be subject to a security check before being sworn in under the Statistics Act as 'deemed employees.' Deemed employees are subject to all the conditions and penalties of regular Statistics Canada's employees, including fines and/or imprisonment for breach of confidentiality. In addition, all data to be physically removed from secure areas will be carefully screened for confidential data, whether as direct listings or as possible residual disclosures.
- Which researchers will be given access to data?
To be granted access to the data housed in the RDCs, researchers will be required to submit a project proposal to an adjudicating committee operating under the auspices of SSHRC and Statistics Canada. The approval of proposals will be based on the merit of the research project and on the need to access detailed data.
- How will researchers be selected, and how will their projects be assessed?
Researchers wishing access to the confidential microdata will submit proposals to a review committee operating under the auspices of SSHRC and Statistics Canada. The committee will evaluate the proposals, based primarily on the research merit of the proposal, as well as the need to access detailed data and the capacity of the centre.
Proposals must demonstrate that the project
- requires access to detailed micro-data to conduct the necessary research;
- is viable and uses appropriate methodology; and
- is within Statistics Canada's mandate.
Finally, the researcher must also agree to produce a publicly available report that falls within Statistics Canada's mandate.
- Who will sit on the review committee?
The review committee will consist largely of academic researchers, with some representation from other research communities and Statistics Canada. Researchers who are conducting publicly available research on a not-for-profit basis at universities, research institutes, government agencies, and other public research organizations may also submit proposals.
- What data are available to researchers through this program?
The RDCs will initially contain the databases of the following surveys:
- National Population Health Survey (NPHS)
- National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY)
- Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID)
- Workplace and Employee Survey (WES)
- Youth in Transition Survey (YITS)
Statistics Canada has already released the data from all these surveys in aggregate form-that is, as statistical totals rather than as unique pieces of data from any one person.
- What will happen to the research done at the centres?
Researchers will produce research papers that will be subject to the normal peer and institutional review process. The vast majority of the papers will likely be included in Statistics Canada's Research Paper Series. The papers will report on the quantitative analysis and results, but will not comment directly on public policy or programs as this is outside the mandate of Statistics Canada.
- Who is funding the research centres?
Initial infrastructure costs for six of the nine centres will be funded by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, an independent corporation established by the federal government in 1997 to strengthen Canadian capability for research. Costs for the remaining three centres will be covered by other arrangements made by the host universities.
The cost of running a data centre will be approximately $250,000 per year. This includes funding for space, staff, and regular updating and replacement of computer hardware and software. Year-to-year operating costs will be covered by a combination of
- university contributions in cash or in-kind;
- base grants from SSHRC;
- user fees paid by researchers; and
- contributions by other partners.