Since population research is data-intensive, part of our Center includes a Data and Computing Core. This Core provides affiliates and their GSR's consulting, advice, assistance and training in finding and optimizing use of data sets. There are three main areas of support available to you - Data, Computing, Survey Research.

 

Data

This service is provided by Jon Stiles of the Survey Research Center (where all UCB faculty, staff and students have 2 hours/year of consulting in addition to what they provide to the BPC). Rather than spending hours searching online or elsewhere for the appropriate data set for your research, you can simply ask Jon Stiles (jons@berkeley.edu, 642- 6571). He is a "fountain of knowledge" about data, a veritable treasure trove of information. He can:

• Find suitable data sets for research, for example, which data set has both work and family career histories?
• Preparation of data into system-readable files for SPSS, SAS, STATA, or pooling multiple waves of panel studies.
• Extract a subset of a larger data set.
• Provide you access to printed codebooks for your reviewing ease. The SRC has a HUGE library of printed codebooks of many datasets.
• Prepare requests for and make accessible the use of US Census and survey private use micro-data.
• Provide training workshops on data and research use.
• Work with faculty who have their own data that they would like to make available to the research public.

 

If you are interested, Jon can:

• Put it on SDA for public analysis
• Put in UCDATA (http://ucdata.berkeley.edu)
• For download in different format, or
• To make available upon written request.
• Examine data for potential issues of breach of confidentiality, licensing, etc.

 

Computing

Carl Mason will assist affiliates and their GSR's perform statistical analysis of data by providing the following services:

• Instruction on how to get started in certain statistical software, or certain kinds of statistical analyses.
• GSR's are encouraged to work in the lab here where they can take advantage of the camaraderie and helpfulness of fellow graduate students.
• Use of the Demography Department's computing facilities and remote access.
• Provide space for GSRs, subject to availability.

 

Survey Research

Leora Lawton will provide consulting regarding a variety of aspects of survey research

• Sampling
• Questionnaire design
• Calculating a budget for data collection
• Vendors suitable for data collection
• Differences between mail, internet, phone and face-to-face methods, and various kinds of qualitative research practices. Mixed methods and multi-methods.
• Training in questionnaire design.