AQMeN - Applied Quantitative Methods Network

The ESRC National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) is offering training bursaries up to £1000 to enable staff in the UK social science community engaged in research, teaching research methods or supervising research to update their skills. Contract researchers working in HEIs are also eligible for the bursaries.  http://www.ncrm.ac.uk/about/funding/training/

CORE collects a wide variety of information at the point of letting. Examples include household profile (age, sex, ethnicity, nationality, economic status, occupation, whether any occupant is pregnant), income, reasons for leaving last home, previous housing situation, and homelessness status. It also provides details on the property being let including size,rent, reason for letting, length of void time, and location (including postcode).

It also provides details on the property being let including size, rent,reason for letting, length of void time, and location (including postcode).

The system has been extended over time and from the 1st April 2010 all social housing registered providers, whether a local authority, housing association or private provider with a stock of over 250 units must supply CORE data to the Tenant Services Authority.

Detailed information about CORE data is now available (including access procedures) on the ADLS website at www.adls.ac.uk.

www.adls.ac.uk

Telephone: 01334 46 3901

The UK Data Archive has launched a new website. The website has a clearer and more consistent feel, to present a more open and contemporary image of their role in the social sciences and research.

The new image and web presence portrays a unique identity for the Archive which differentiates it from the ESDS. The Archive runs other key research data and support services, including the ESRC Census portal, the Survey Question Bank, the Secure Data Service, the History Data Service and the RELU Data Support Service. They also engage in related research and development activities supported by the ESRC, JISC, EU and other funders.

1. There is a new look and feel to the site - including the logo and colour scheme

2. Site navigation has been simplified and improved

3. Data can no longer be searched or accessed on the UK Data Archive site. Instead the site is a portal to our varied data resources. Users are very clearly directed to the ESDS where data can be found and accessed, much as it is now

4. Our Managing & Sharing pages are now called Create & Manage, and while they may look different, the content is the same

5. We have a new series of case studies submitted by users featuring how they used our data.

We are sure this will enhance user experience, but understand there may be initial inconvenience as everyone becomes familiar with the new style and layout. Apologies for any inconvenience that does arise

Please direct any enquiries to the Archive Communications team at comms@data-archive.ac.uk

*DATA ARCHIVE*
UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX
WIVENHOE PARK
COLCHESTER
ESSEX
CO4 3SQ

*T* +44(0)1206 872145
*W* www.data-archive.ac.uk

Applications are invited from candidates with a higher degree and experience in managing eHealth research for a Senior Data Analyst.

This new post is part of an initiative to establish a Records Research Portal for Scotland and provide analytical and statistical support to the Edinburgh Node of the Scottish Academic Health
Sciences Collaboration and the eHealth research programme within the Centre for Population Health Sciences.

Roles will include database interrogation and analysis, and secondary analysis of routine data; facilitate synergistic working and thinking across projects; and to provide support with representation at national bodies. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to writing papers, help initiate new grant applications, provide support in the writing of new applications and lead the Edinburgh contribution to the development of national networks and systems for electronic records research.

Ideally you will have experience as a masters or higher qualification researcher, experience with grant-writing and have high level skills in database interrogation and analysis. This post is funded for 2 years. For informal discussion of the opportunities available please contact:

Professor David Weller, 0131 650 9518 - david.weller@ed.ac.uk or Professor Aziz Sheikh, 0131 650 8102 - aziz.sheikh@ed.ac.uk

For further particulars please contact: Jan Bunyan, 0131 650 9518 or visit www.jobs.ed.ac.uk – Ref: 3013098

Closing date: 13th August 2010
Interview Date: 26th August 2010
Salary: £29,853 to £35,646

We are delighted to announce that Susan McVie, Director of AQMeN, has been awarded a personal chair - Professor of Quantitative Criminology - from Edinburgh University's School of Law. 
 
As well as her role as Director of AQMeN, she is Co-Director of the Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime, a prospective longitudinal study of youth offending based at the University of Edinburgh since 1998. She has responsibility for strategic management of the research programme and plays a key role in advancing statistical analysis of the data and publishing the results of the research.  And she is Leader of the CJ-Quest network for the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, another collaborative initiative involving Stirling, Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities in partnership with the other Scottish HEIs. The CJ-Quest network has responsibility for conducting and facilitating high quality quantitative criminological research in Scotland, and developing statistical analysis and data modelling.
 

The ESRC has established a Panel to review the ESRC/JISC Economic and Social Data Service (ESDS).  This review will inform ESRC's and JISC's decision on the continued funding of the Service beyond the current contract that will end in 2012.

The Panel is anxiuos to gather feedback about the ESDS from those who may have used it.  Users of the Service, including both depositors and researchers utilising the datasets, are invited to complete a short survey, the results of which will inform the Review Panel's work.  The Panel would welcome the views of anyone wishing to share feedback with them.

The questionnaire should take about ten minutes to complete and can be accessed using the link below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/ESDSUserSurvey

You can find out more about the ESDS an dthe services it provides at its website.

Administrative data,  such as hospital, education or social security records, offer powerful tools for social science research.  However gaining access to and using this type of data successfully requires specialist skills.  Data owners, for example, will expect a high level of data security awareness before they will release potentially disclosive, personal data to a researcher.

This new ESRC 'Safe Researcher' training course aims to fill this skills gap.  The course will provide researchers with the basic understanding, knowledge and skills to apply for and use administrative data for research confidently and responsibly.  The course has been endorsed by major holding organisations in the UK and a certificate of attendance will be provided that can then be used to support applications.

The 'Safe Searcher' course will initially run on 14th September in Manchester and be repeated in London on the 12th November 2010.  The course has been subsidised by the ESRC and costs just £35 to attend.

Please note that places are limited and early booking is advisable.  For full course details and to reserve a place please go to the ADLS website.

The course is provided by the ESRC's Administrative Data Liaison Service (ADLS).  The aim of the service is to help improve data resources for academic researchers in the UK.  The ADLS raises awareness and utility of administrative data for research purposes and offers guidance and support to enable researchers to use administrative data safely and securely.

For further information contact Darren Lightfoot, ADLS Manager, on 01334 463901 or email adls@st-andrews.ac.uk

On October 27th 2010 the first meeting of Mplus user's group: Exploring the boundaries of Mplus will take place at Utrecht University.

The aim of Mplus user group is to bring together users of Mplus and to share information, learn about new developments and discuss solutions for typical Mplus problems. 

Meetings will take place twice a year for all interested researchers applied researchers, statisticians & methodologists).

Every meeting will start with a key-note presentation in combination with a practical.  In the afternoon, two or three 'thirty-minute' presentations will discuss developments in Mplus.  The remainder of the day is scheduled for discussing Mplus problems and solutions.  Every researcher can shortly present a problem, error message or other modelling issues with the audience and receive instant feedback.

Details of the first user group meeting.

Chair of Science Education
Department of Educational and Professional Studies
Kings College London

Closing Date: 1st July 2010

The Department of Education and Professional Studies in the School of Social Science and Education Public Policy, wishes to appoint an individual to the established Chair in Science Education. 

King's College London has a national and international reputation for its work in science education and this post is the UK's most prestigious chair in this field.  The Department is seeking to appoint somebody with international renown and applicants should have a strong research  profile and the ability to contribute more generally to a Department with a strong research culture.

The individual appointed will be required to supervise PhD students, teach on Masters courses and to lead the Science and Technology Education Group.

DEPS is an internationally recognised centre of excellence in teaching and research in which the appointee will have a major role in providing academic leadership.  Individuals who are interested in making a contribution to a friendly and energetic department with a strong research culture should obtain further details and application forms from the website.

The appointment will be made, dependent on relevant qualifications and experience, within the Professional scale.  Benefits include a final salary superannuation scheme and annual season ticket loan scheme.

For an informal discussion of the post please contact Professor Chris Winch

Email: Christopher.Winch@kcl.ac.uk
Tel:      020 7848 3852

Further Details and applications are available on the College's website or by emailing Human Resources at strand-recruitment@kcl.ac.uk

All correspondence should clearly state the job title and reference number:

A9/DAE/165/10/JL

Salary: £36,716 - £43,840
Ref 72/10/*
Closing date: 25 June

Applications are invited for a permanent (tenured) lectureship in
actuarial/financial mathematics, quantitative risk management, and/or
allied disciplines including statistics and probability.

You will be expected to hold a PhD in a related subject, and/or a professional actuarial qualification. You will have a track record of internationally excellent research, and will have well formulated research plans including, where appropriate, interactions with industry and knowledge exchange. You will also be committed to excellence in teaching at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

*For established academics who have already demonstrated sustained excellence in research leadership,we may consider appointment at a higher level.*

Please address* informal enquiries* to:

Professor of Actuarial Mathematics: Angus Macdonald

+44 (0)131 451 3209
Email A.S.Macdonald@hw.ac.uk

Professor of Applied Probability: Sergey Foss
+44 (0)31 451 3238
Email S.Foss@hw.ac.uk

Professor of Statistics: Gavin Gibson
+44 (0)131 451 3205
Email G.J.Gibson@hw.ac.uk

Salary: £36,715 - £45,155 per annum
Start: as soon as possible
Closing Date: 20th August 2010

A vacancy exists in the Statistics Division of the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of St Andrews.

You should hold a PhD in Statistics or a closely related discipline, have a track record of high quality research outputs in some branch of probability or statistics,and be a committed teacher.  Your research plans should include attracting research funding.

The Statistics Division forms part of the School of Mathematics and Statistics and has particular strength in the area of Statistical Ecology.

Further information

The following new edition has been released:

SN 6361 - Scottish Household
Survey, 2007-2008http://www.data-archive.ac.uk/findingData/snDescription.asp?sn=6361

Reason:
For the second edition (June 2010), data and documentation from the main survey
and the culture and sport module have been added to the dataset, which
previously contained only the travel diary data and documentation.

Five new reports using data from the first four years of the Growing Up in Scotland study (GUS) were published on 29th April 2010. Full reports and Research Summaries are available from the GUS website  or from the Scottish Government website:

The circumstances of persistently poor children

Health inequalities in the early years

Maternal mental health and its impact on child behaviour and development

Children's social, emotional and behavioural characteristics at entry to primary school

Impact of the home learning environment on child cognitive development

GUS data is available to download from the UK Data Archive.

Data documentation and supporting information, including copies of the

questionnaires, is available from the Data Archive or from the GUS website

(Using GUS data button).

For more information, please contact:

Lesley Kelly

GUS Dissemination Officer

CRFR, University of Edinburgh

Lesley.kelly@ed.ac.uk

ISD Scotland released a series of health statistics on Tuesday 25th May 2010.

Details of each publication along with a link to the statistics are provided on ISD Scotland's website.

The University of St Andrews has a number of funded MSc places for 2010/2011. It would be appreciated if this information could be passed to potential candidates.

In brief, we have two 1-year taught MSc programmes:

The MSc in Statistics. A course of advanced study (and research dissertation) for candidates with a good undergraduate degree in statistics. Full fees and good stipend, subject to eligibility.
The MSc in Applied Statistics and Data Mining. A prescriptive course of applied statistical study (and research dissertation) for those with a good quantitative undergraduate degree, seeking work in commercial analysis. Full fees and modest stipend, subject to eligibility. Course details can be found here
http://www.creem.st-and.ac.uk/datamining/

Eligibility for the studentships is limited to UK/EU residents.
Enquiries can be made to Andrew Tiftickjian - 
amt21@st-andrews.ac.uk

The School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science at the University of Kent has EPSRC funding available to support UK students on our MSc Statistics course for the coming academic year. The grants will cover the costs of tuition and pay a contribution towards living expenses. EU students are eligible for tuition fees only. Students from outside the EU are not eligible. Under a separate scheme, we also have a small number of £500 bursaries available without eligibility restrictions.

The MSc in Statistics at Kent is a long-established programme, accredited by the Royal Statistical Society, which trains statisticians for posts in industry, government, research and
teaching.

The course covers both the practical application of statistical methods and the underlying theory and consists of a mixture of compulsory and optional modules, as well as a substantial individually-supervised project. Full details are available at www.kent.ac.uk/ims/statistics/courses/MSc-stats.html

There is a wide choice of project topics, reflecting the diverse interests of staff. The Statistics Group at Kent was ranked highly in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, with 65% of research judged to be world leading or internationally excellent. Areas of particular strength include Bayesian statistics, bioinformatics, biometry, nonparametric methods and statistical ecology. For further information, please contact the Admissions Officer,Martin Ridout, msr@kent.ac.uk.

To make an online application, go to
https://records.kent.ac.uk/external/admissions

Statisticians, journalists and scientists today launch Making Sense of
Statistics, a guide that provides a few questions you can ask and outlines
the pitfalls to look out for when weighing up claims that use statistics.
Making Sense of Statistics is published by Sense About Science and Straight
Statistics in collaboration with the Royal Statistical Society.

http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/project/484/

There is also a short report, "Making Sense of Statistics in an election".

ISLP is managed by Reija Helenius, Head of Development, Information Services Unit of Statistics, Finland. 

The mission of the project is to support, create and participate in statistical literacy activities and promotion around the world.

Dr Margaret MacDougall, Medical Statistician and Researcher at the University of Edinburgh has the role of endeavouring to advance statistical literacy in Scotland.

The first ISLP Newsletter is to be released in May.  At this stage they are seeking information on recent or upcoming activities (including development of learning tools), events or publications, of relevance to the advancement of statistical literacy in Scotland.  If you would like to provide such details for publication in the newsletter, please contact Margaret MacDougall no later than Thursday 29th April 2010.

MLwiN 2.18 is now available. Some minor new features/bug fixes have been introduced, e.g. Allowed copy/paste of categories between columns, and Fixed potential problem when adding/removing categories from a column.

For bug fixes go to: http://www.cmm.bristol.ac.uk/MLwiN/bugs/fixes.shtml

New features in MLwiN 2.18:

http://www.cmm.bristol.ac.uk/MLwiN/features/mlwin-2-18.shtml

Upgrade to latest version:

http://www.cmm.bristol.ac.uk/MLwiN/download/upgrades.shtml

The ESRC National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) is offering training bursaries up to £1000 to enable staff in the UK social science community engaged in research, teaching research methods or supervising research to update their skills. Contract researchers working in HEIs are also eligible for the bursaries. Please note that the bursary scheme is open for applications throughout the year i.e. there are no deadlines for applications.
For further information and to apply, please go to NCRM website.

The latest ScotStat newsletter contains information and links to a selection of recent and forthcoming consultations and events:

www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/scotstat/NewsSpring10

New SIRE resource now available.

A podcast from the first PhD - Workshop in Advanced Quantitative Methods in Economics; Finance is now available from the SIRE website.

The lecture was held on 18 January 2010 and delivered by Professor Mitra entitled "What Quantitative Methods does a Macroeconomist need to know".

www.sire.ac.uk/training_videos.html

The Department of Sociology at the University of Surrey seeks to appoint

A CHAIR IN QUANTITATIVE METHODS

This is a senior appointment to provide high-profile leadership in this
area in an outstanding department.

Full details of the post can be downloaded via the following link:

http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AAP277/chair-in-quantitative-methods/

The closing date is Wednesday 7 April 2010.

Department of Statistics, University of Glasgow

MSc (by Research) Studentships in Statistics

The Department of Statistics is one of the largest in the UK and our research has a high international profile.  We currently have over 20 postgraduate students (PhD and MSc), and are delighted to be able to offer up to seven funded MSc places to join this highly active community.  The MSc degree takes the form of a one-year research project and is awarded on the basis of a thesis submitted at the end of the programme. 

In addition, students are given training in modern statistical methods through relevant courses such as those provided by the Scottish Mathematical Sciences Training Centre (SMSTC).  The skills and attributes graduates gain from this degree leave them well placed to begin a PhD programme or to seek immediate employment.

The topic of the research project can be either methodological or applied and is likely to be within one of the department's research strengths, namely Bayesian modelling, biostatistics, clinical trial design, clustering, environmetrics, shape analysis, forensic
statistics and genetics.  Examples of potential projects include (but are not limited to):

Mapping spatial inequalities in disease risk in Scotland
Evaluation of transfer evidence in forensic statistics 
Improving forecasting of patient recruitment in clinical trials 
Methods for the analysis of data on facial shape

The studentship provides a tax-free stipend of around 13,000 pounds, as well as the payment of fees at the UK/European rate.  The entry requirements include a first class or upper second class honours degree in mathematical sciences or a subject with a strong statistical component.  These seven studentships are currently available thanks to the generous sponsorship of a variety of organisations, including 

EPSRC 
Information Services Division of NHS Scotland
Boehringer Ingelheim
ICON

Further information about other postgraduate research opportunities, and details of specific projects, can be found at:-  
www.stats.gla.ac.uk/postgrad
Enquiries and applications should be directed to:
Prof. Adrian Bowman, Dept. of Statistics  
The University of Glasgow
0141-330-4046 

adrian@stats.gla.ac.uk  

It is with regret that we announce that the Centre for Multilevel Modelling Director, Jon Rasbash passed away earlier this week. We would like to offer our condolences to his family and to his many friends and colleagues.  Jon will be sadly missed.  An obituary for Jon can be found here:
http://www.cmm.bristol.ac.uk/learning-training/multilevel-m-support/news.shtml

SCVO is seeking the services of a postgraduate statistician to contribute towards the analysis of a recent sample of Scottish Voluntary Sector data for financial year 2008-09. This short-term voluntary opportunity has genuine social value and will contribute to the understanding of the size and composition of the voluntary sector in Scotland. It comes with a guaranteed publication credit and a national and international audience. Full expenses will be paid.

If you wish to apply or would like further details, please contact: Ian Lees, Research Officer, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB. Tel: 0131 474 8025 or Email: ian.lees@scvo.org.uk.

Closing date: Monday 5th April.

The UK Statistics Authority has recently published three further Assessment reports covering:-

- Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics (HM Revenue & Customs) 
- Labour Market Statistics for Northern Ireland
- Special Assessment of the 2011 Censuses in the UK: Phase 1 (Office for
- National Statistics, the General Register Office for Scotland, and the
- Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency)

These are available on the Authority's website at:-
http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/assessment/assessment-reports/index.html

The Authority has a statutory duty to assess all official statistics before they can be designated as National Statistics and to reassess all of the existing 1300 National Statistics in order to determine which of them can continue to be designated as National Statistics. This is a major task for the Authority and the post holder can expect to spend a significant proportion of their time ensuring that the Authority meets this objective.  Apply via:-

http://www.ons.gov.uk/jobs/current-vacancies/uk-statistics-authority---statistician-researcher-analyst-for-assessment-team/index.html

ScotStat is the Scottish Government Statistics Group Consultation network for user and providers of Scottish official statistics.

The 'Children Looked After Statistics 2008-09'* Statistics Publication Notice has been published by the Education Analytical Services Division, Analytical Services Unit - Children, Young People and Social Care Statistics.

You can access this publication via the following link -
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/02/22133946/0
 

STOR-i DTC Open Day, Lancaster University
Wednesday March 17, 2010

The STOR-i DTC at Lancaster University is a pioneering new 4 year Statistics and Operational Research PhD programme with substantial Government and industry backing. For October 2010 entry we have 10 fully-funded studentships, with up to 50% more funding than standard PhDs (equating to a competitive graduate salary).

STOR-i offers you a new style of PhD training, which provides an opportunity to:
be part of an exciting new group of researchers; co-operate and interact with like-minded peers; work directly with leading industry partners;  open up real potential for rapid career progression;  make a real scientific and industrial impact with your
research.

To find out more - come along to our open day. The programme for the day
will include talks describing: 
 
The STOR-i DTC 
What doing a PhD is really like 
Describing different research project areas 
Career opportunities in Statistics and Operational Research given by speakers from industry.
 
There will also be time to talk to some of our current PhD students, tour the campus and meet with members of staff. For those who have already applied for a place at the STOR-i DTC there will also be short interviews.

We have funds available to cover reasonable travel costs for students meeting the eligibility conditions for funding (http://www.stor-i.lancs.ac.uk/funding/). For those coming from further afield in the UK, we will also be able to arrange accommodation, again subject to you meeting the eligibility conditions.

Places are limited so please apply early by sending your CV to STOR-i@lancs.ac.uk.

The 2010 NERC sponsored Statistics training course for PhD students and RAs in Environmental Science will run in the University of Glasgow from August 30th to Sept 3.  Further details and registration information will appear shortly at www.gla.ac.uk/departments/statistics
 

ScotStat – Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2008/09 – Partner Abuse and Sexual Victimisation reports

Scotland’s Chief Statistician published two National Statistics publications: (1) Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2008-09: Partner Abuse and (2) Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2008-09: Sexual Victimisation and Stalking.

Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) 2008-09:** Partner Abuse*

The report identifies the extent of partner abuse, both since the age of 16 and in the last 12 months. It examines the nature and impact of partner abuse and explores the extent to which people or organisations
ere informed about the abuse.

A link to this publication is below:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/12/14103249/0_

*Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) 2008-09:** Sexual Victimisation and Stalking*

The report presents information on the risk of experiencing stalking and harassment and sexual victimisation ever and in the last 12 months;  how risk varies among different groups of adults, for example by age and gender; and any relationship between victim and offender.

A link to this publication is below:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/12/14103338/0_

*Further information*

For further information about statistics on crime and justice, please visit the web area on the Scottish Government site:

www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice

Or contact Justice Analytical Services (Statistics):

Email:  justicestatistics@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Phone: 0131 244 2228
 

The Scottish House Conditions Survey is a major survey of homes across Scotland.  The most recent report has been published and can be found here:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/11/23090958/0

The Economic and Social Research Council has just advertised the post of the Strategic Advisor for Data Resources to lead in the development and implementation of a UK Strategy for Data Resources for Social and Economic Research ensuring a strategic vision for maintenance and further development of the UK's data resources required for social science research. The post will be filled either through single appointment or, due to the breadth and depth of expertise required for the post, through a collaborative appointment of more than one applicant. The appointment is for 36 months.
 
Call closes on 22 January. Interviews are planned in early March. It is expected that the successful applicant will take up the post on 1 October 2010, or as practicable thereafter.

More information and full specifications is available at:
 
www.esrc.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/opportunities

SENIOR RESEARCH OFFICER, Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) The Institute for Social and Economic Research wishes to appoint a researcher to contribute to the UK element of a major new study of the socio-cultural integration of immigrants in four European countries, funded under the New Opportunities for Research Funding Agency Co-operation in Europe (NORFACE) Migration in Europe programme. Candidates should have a background in a social science, an interest in migration research, an understanding of development work with immigrant communities, competence in quantitative analyses and experience with using or developing survey data. The ability to speak Polish or Punjabi / Urdu would be an advantage. The post is full-time and fixed-term for 2 years in the first instance.

Go to the University of Essex vacancies pages: http://www.essex.ac.uk/vacancies/ (Ref: RE966).
 

Please see attached form which is distributed at events to highlight forthcoming assessments of devolved Scottish Statistics.  
 

We would like to inform you that the Economic and Social Research Council has just advertised the post of the Strategic Advisor for Data Resources to lead in the development and implementation of a UK Strategy for Data Resources for Social and Economic Research ensuring a strategic vision for maintenance and further development of the UK's data resources required for social science research. The post will be filled either through single appointment or, due to the breadth and depth of expertise required for the post, through a collaborative appointment of more than one applicant. The appointment is for 36 months. Call closes on 22 January. Interviews are planned in early March. It is expected that the successful applicant will take up the post on 1 October 2010, or as practicable thereafter.

More information and full specifications is available at:

http://www.esrc.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/opportunities/current_funding_opportunities
 

The Scottish Household Survey (SHS) is a long running Scottish Government survey designed to provide accurate, up-to-date information about the composition, characteristics, attitudes and behaviours of Scottish households and individuals on a range of issues.  There is a particular focus on information to inform government policy on communities, local government and transport.

An SHS Survey Review Project 2010 has been set up to assess the uses made of the survey with the primary aim of assessing the achieved benefits, quality and continued need for the survey and to maximise the benefits through appropriate question and topic content.  We are keen to engage with the broad-based user community - from the past, present and potentially the future of the survey – to better understand user
requirements in how to best shape the survey going forward.

A web-based survey has been set up to ask about your experiences of using the SHS, how well it meets your needs at the moment and how you think it could be improved in the future.  Your responses will help us to improve the quality of information the SHS collects and help us to improve the service we provide to all of our users.

We do appreciate the many demands on your time, and hope you will be able to spare 10 minutes to assist us by completing the survey. You can complete the survey using the following link: 

https://www.questback.com/scottishgovernment/shssurveyreview2010/

The survey will be open to respondents until Friday 29 January 2010.

If you have any questions about the web-based survey or questions regarding the SHS in general please contact Hugh Munro in the SHS Project Team.

Further information can be obtained from:

Contact:        Hugh Munro

Telephone:      0131 244 5415

Email:          shs@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Web:            www.scotland.gov.uk/SHS 

The Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics at Monash University
(Melbourne Australia), is looking to recruit a Full Professor with a very strong research track record and international reputation. The Department provides a great research environment, with low teaching loads, good research funding opportunities and travel support, a large cohort of active staff and more than 30 PhD students.  Melbourne is a very liveable city, and attractive salary conditions can be negotiated.  Potential candidates with research strengths in any field of econometrics or in statistics are welcome to make contact with the Head of Department, Brett Inder (brett.inder@buseco.monash.edu.au) before November 30th, 2009, to discuss the
opportunity further.

For information about the department, see www.buseco.monash.edu.au/ebs
 

As a Senior Officer for the Research Data Management Support Services section at the UK Data Archive, you will be responsible for co-ordinating a JISC-supported project on research data management for ESRC data-rich investments. This involves working closely with selected ESRC Research Centres and Programmes to assess existing research data management practices; implement and help develop effective data management planning in research projects; and increase capacity within research centres through support and training.

You will work proactively with researchers and support staff in ESRC Research Centres and Programmes to develop good data management practices, procedures and tools; increase data sharing potential; and disseminate expertise and findings to the wider academic community.

Experience of undertaking research and data analysis in the social sciences, both quantitative and qualitative, are essential; as well as experience of working in a research team and handling research data. Good communication, time management and problem solving skills are equally important. The role requires regular travel within the UK, as
well as short term placements with collaborating research centres to work pro-actively with centre staff.

The post is fixed-term until 31 March 2011 and to start as soon as possible.

Further details: http://www.esds.ac.uk/news/staffvacancies.asp

ESRC publish a National Strategy for building a world class social science research base in quantitative methods.  See attachment.