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  • Secondary Data Analysis Initiative phase 1 - 2012

    The ESRC is inviting proposals under phase 1 of this new £10.8 million initiative. The initiative aims to deliver high impact policy and practitioner relevant research through the deeper exploitation of the major data resources created by the ESRC and other agencies.

    The first phase will fund around 20 small scale projects of up to £200,000 (at full economic cost) each and with a maximum duration of 18 months. This call is not thematically driven and proposals are welcome in any area which can generate policy and practitioner impact. However, there are significant opportunities to address key issues in the ESRC's strategic priorities.

    The closing date for proposals is 16.00 on 19 April 2012, with the expectation that most projects will commence in October 2012. Proposals should be submitted electronically using the Research Councils’ Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S). Detailed guidance on the information required as part of proposals is provided in the Je-S guidance notes for applicants. All applicants should consult the ESRC Research Funding Guide, which sets out the rules and regulations governing funding.

    http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/19214/latest-opportunity-3.aspx

    31 Jan 2012
  • We are sad to announce the death of Professor Sir Roger Jowell, CBE on Christmas Day 2011. 

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/jan/08/sir-roger-jowell?INTCMP=SRCH

    Roger was a major influence in the development of social science research in the UK and played a significant role in the development of many large-scale surveys.  Amongst his many accomplishments, he was the founder of the National Centre for Social Research, Founder Director of the Centre for Comparative Social Surveys and the UK Statistics Authority's Deputy Chair (Statistical System).  

    He was knighted for services to social sciences in 2008.  At the time of his death, he was Research Professor at City University London.  To find out more about his career and achievements, see the Market Research Industry obituary at http://www.mrweb.com/drno/news14778.htm.

    30 Jan 2012
  • Postdoctoral Researcher in the field of Health and the Environment.

    Based at the Institute of Geography and Lived Environment, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh you will join the Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health (CRESH) which is a virtual centre joining scientists from the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Our research is focused on exploring how physical and social environments can influence population health, for better and for worse.

    You will contribute to two projects funded separately by the MRC Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy and the National Institute for Health Research. The first project will examine whether the density of tobacco and alcohol outlets around schools and homes affects smoking and drinking behaviours among 13 and 15 year olds in Scotland. The second is entitled 'Determining the Impact of Smoking Point of Sale Legislation Among Youth (DISPLAY) study'. This mixed-method longitudinal study seeks to evaluate the impact of the change in legislation relating to the sale of tobacco in Scotland that comes into effect in 2012.

    The successful candidate will play a key role in the *Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health (CRESH)*. See: www.cresh.org.uk

    CRESH is a highly active research collaboration and along with other team members you will have an important role in developing the research profile of the centre through the dissemination of research findings, outreach, web page development and other innovative approaches.

    Closing date: 06-Feb-2012

    Fixed Term: 12 months

    Salary Scale: £29,972 - £35,788

    For further details on the position:
    http://www.jobs.ed.ac.uk/vacancies/index.cfm?fuseaction=vacancies.detail&vacancy_ref=3015243

    For informal enquiries please contact:
    Dr Niamh Shortt (Niamh.Shortt@ed.ac.uk)
    Prof Jamie Pearce (jamie.pearce@ed.ac.uk)
    Prof Richard Mitchell (Richard.Mitchell@glasgow.ac.uk 

    26 Jan 2012
  • Are you a young statistician?

    Have you ever wanted to write and be published?

    Calling all budding writers and statisticians!

    Here is news of a competition that might get you started on a journalistic add-on to your statistical career - and all you have to do is write an article! The competition is jointly hosted by the Young Statisticians Section of the Royal Statistical Society and by Significance magazine.

    The idea is very simple. So are the rules:

    • Do you have an idea for an interesting article which would be suitable for Significance magazine?

    • Have you always wanted to try your hand at writing in a more journalistic style?

    • Are you good at interpreting data?

    Then why not write an article and submit it to our competition? This is the first writing competition hosted jointly between Significance and the Young Statisticians Section of the Royal Statistical Society. Significance is published by the Royal Statistical Society and the American Statistical Association, and is for anyone interested in statistics and the analysis and interpretation of data. It is primarily a general interest magazine for statisticians, users of statistics and all those interested in statistics. It is not a research journal, and articles are not peer-reviewed. Look at past issues of the magazine for examples of the style, and the sort of content and technical level that we need; or, if you are not a subscriber, see the March 2011 issue which is available to view for free here, and two articles from the latest December 2011 issue, which are free to view for the next two weeks: Keep on taking the tablets, by Howard Wainer - which is about how you can tell if a new medicine will actually be safe if you intend to take it regularly for years, and Financial Hurricanes, by John Leichty - about the better data, better models and better science that we need to avoid future financial disaster. Your article should be accessible to a wide and non-specialist audience and should be about an area or application of statistics that is of broad relevance or has an important and topical application, in a way that lives up to both meanings of the tagline “Statistics making sense”. It should be between 1800 and 3000 words long and can include tables, figures and photographs. The style should be clear and easy to read – avoid the formal layout of an academic report – and technical terms and mathematics should be used sparingly if at all, and suitably explained. End references are optional, but should be limited to three or four at most.

    Anyone is welcome to enter, regardless of membership or affiliation. The only stipulation is that you should be “young” (in career terms, not necessarily in age) – that is, you must be a student or within the first 10 years of your career. The article could be on work that you have done, or it could explain the work of others. Only submissions in English will be considered. Manuscripts must be original and not under consideration for publication elsewhere, though we welcome magazine articles based on work in theses or in papers that have been submitted to or accepted by academic journals, provided the two are sufficiently different.

    The closing date for entry is 1st March 2012. All articles will be assessed by a review committee made up of representatives from both the Young Statisticians Section and Significance.

    The winning article will be published in Significance. Runner-up articles will be published on the Significance website, or in Significance at the editor’s discretion. Please email your submissions, in Word or as a PDF file, to: significance@rss.org.uk 

    25 Jan 2012
  • A vacancy has arisen for a Senior Statistician to join the Applied Quantitative Methods Network (AQMeN) on a fixed term basis for a period of four months in the first instance, but potentially until end December 2012. 

    The post will be based in the School of Law at the University of Edinburgh, although the successful candidate will work with a multi-disciplinary team of academics from eight collaborating Universities.  The successful candidate will have strong quantitative research skills, expertise in complex data analysis, excellent leadership and management skills, the ability to clearly communicate the techniques involved in and the results of quantitative methods.  The role involves delivery of high quality quantitative training and knowledge exchange events and providing advice and guidance on statistical matters.  A core part of the role will also involve exploring avenues to ensure the longer term sustainability of the Network. 

    The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Wednesday 8th February and interviews will be held on the morning of Friday 17th February 2012.  The start date will be 1st March or as soon as possible thereafter.  Appointment will be made on a fixed term basis initially until end June 2012 on the UE08 scale (£37,012-£44,166).  It is, however, fully anticipated that the funding and therefore this appointment will be extended until 31st December 2012.  (Appointment on the UE07 scale would be considered if no suitable candidate could be appointed on the UE08 scale.)

    To obtain the further particulars for the post, and to apply, go to http://www.jobs.ed.ac.uk/ and click on ‘vacancies’, then ‘New Vacancies’ or search for Vacancy Reference number 3015299.

    24 Jan 2012
  • Data analyst/research assistant: 6 months starting immediately
    Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability (SCLD), Glasgow, 35 hours (part-time considered), Glasgow, £17,012- 18,198pa

    SCLD maintains the national dataset of adults with learning disabilities and autism. It contains data on over 27,000 people. A temporary post is available (sickness cover) to prepare the data received from local authorities for 2011 in readiness for a statistical publication in June 2012. The tasks are to create a single SPSS datafile from 32 CSV files, to run checks, clean the data, communicate and liaise with data providers in local authorities to resolve data queries and produce initial frequencies and tables.

    The postholder will support other projects as required and support SCLD’s ICT systems by supporting staff and liaising with SCLD’s external ICT service. Requirements are: experience with large datasets, excellent skills in using SPSS and especially its facilities for reading and manipulating data, commitment to high standards of research ethics and data quality, excellent communication skills, strong ICT capabilities and competence in basic statistical analysis. Knowledge of local authority data systems for social care or official statistics is advantageous.

    An applicant with advanced statistical skills and greater experience may be invited to contribute to the analysis and drafting of the publication of the the eSAY statistics release - www.scld.org.uk/scld-projects/esay/esay-statistics-releases

    The post may be suitable for a recent graduate with research experience.

    To apply please send a CV, a statement of how you meet the above criteria and the names of 2 referees to: claire.m@scld.co.uk, cc lisa.c@scld.co.uk

    Closing date for applications: Thursday 26th January at 12 noon
    Interviews will be held on: Thursday 2nd February in Glasgow

    23 Jan 2012
  • The following new studies have been released:

    SN 6864  ONS Opinions Survey, Tax Credits Module, July - October, 2009
    SN 6931  Understanding Society: Wave 1, 2009-2010: Special Licence Access
    SN 6923  English Housing Survey, 2008-2010: Secure Data Service Access

    For the latest information on all ESDS International data portfolio updates, visit www.esds.ac.uk/international/news/dataupdate.asp

    To order or to view further information on these data collections, or for access to the whole collection, please see the online catalogue web page: www.esds.ac.uk/Lucene/Search.aspx

    16 Jan 2012
  • In 2007, the Scottish Government introduced the National Performance Framework (NPF). The NPF sets out a  single framework to which all public services in Scotland are aligned, provides a clear, unified 10 year vision of the kind of Scotland we are working towards, and supports delivery of the Scottish Government’s Purpose and priorities.

    The National Performance Framework has recently been refreshed to reflect lessons learned from across the Scottish Government and its partner organisations since 2007. It now provides a better measure of progress towards the National Outcomes and reflects current Scottish Government priorities as outlined in Manifesto Commitments, the Government Economic Strategy, Programme for Government and Spending Review documents.

    The refreshed framework and details of the changes are available through the Scotland Performs website.

    16 Jan 2012
  • Postdoctoral Research Officer 
    Social Policy and Intervention, Barnett House, 32 Wellington Square, Oxford 
    Grade 7: Salary in the range £29,099 - £30,870 p.a. 

    An exciting opportunity has arisen at the Department of Social Policy and Intervention for a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher Officer to work as a member of a team investigating the role of education in social mobility in Britain using data from large-scale longitudinal social surveys.

    For further information and to apply, go to www.recruit.ox.ac.uk

    12 Jan 2012
  • PhD research opportunities at the NCRM Hub
    The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) coordinating Hub at the University of Southampton welcomes enquiries from prospective PhD students interested in research methods topics. Students may be eligible for funding as part of the University of Southampton ESRC Doctoral Training Centre (deadline 29 February 2012) or from other sources.

    For more information and to apply, go to http://www.ncrm.ac.uk/news/show.php?article=5248

    12 Jan 2012
  • Vacancy: Research Fellow (Quantitative)
    Full time, fixed term until March 2014
    Salary: £34,745 to £44,016 pa

    NCRM Hub at the University of Southampton is recruiting for a Research Fellow (Quantitative) role.

    In this post you will support the programme of methodological research and training of NCRM and conduct a programme of methodological research alongside the Director and co-directors of the Hub. In conjunction with the Director, you will develop and take forward strategies for closer integration with ESRC's data resource investments, particularly the Understanding Society survey, the Birth Cohort studies, Economic and Social Data Service (ESDS) and new UK Data Service (UKDS). A core part of this role will be the organisation of data analysis workshops, with contributions from a number of different individuals, which focus on the application of appropriate methods for these data sets.

    You will have a PhD in a social science (or closely related) discipline, demonstrable knowledge of and interest in the development and use of quantitative methods in the social sciences and experience of report writing/literature reviews. Outstanding candidates with interests in any areas of quantitative methods are welcome but applicants with interests in the areas of survey methodology and statistical modelling are encouraged.

    You will have an appreciation of some of the methodological challenges facing the social science community, particularly those relating to interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research. You will possess the ability to work independently in planning and conducting a programme of methodological research.

    For further information and to apply, go to http://www.ncrm.ac.uk/news/show.php?article=5246

    12 Jan 2012
  • The Census Division of the National Records of Scotland (formerly GROS) has four fixed term statistical vacancies available.  These are all full time posts for a period of 6 months to a year in length with a salary of £22,173 or £25,165, depending on experience.  The vacancies are available in the Census Downstream Processing Branch and involve a range of tasks (imputation, data quality, estimation and adjustment and general analysis). 

    For more information about the posts contact Thomas Robertson (Thomas.Robertson@gro-scotland.gsi.gov.uk) or Cecilia Macintyre (Cecilia.Macintyre@gro-scotland.gsi.gov.uk). To apply, send a CV to Christine Baker (Ladywell House, Ladywell Road, Edinburgh EH12 7TF. Tel 0131 314 4302. e-mail. christine.baker@gro-scotland.gsi.gov.uk) which identifies your appropriate skills, competencies, experience and qualifications in relation to this post. 

    The closing date is Wednesday 18th January 2012 at 12 noon.  General information NRS can be found at:  www.nrscotland.gov.uk/  and general info about the census can be found at: www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/en/

    11 Jan 2012
  • SIRE CONFERENCE PRESENTER GRANT - UPDATE for 2012

    The SIRE Executive is pleased to announce its continued support for the SIRE Conference Presenter Grant.  This grant is intended to financially support academic economists who are based in Scotland and wish to present their paper at conferences in the UK and beyond.

    Applicants should note that due to the success of this initiative in 2011, a cap has been introduced to generate maximum benefit from the scheme. The level of financial support offered is as follows:
    For events outside Europe:£750
    For events within Europe (but outside the UK):£500
    For events within the UK:£350

    ELIGIBILITY
    The financial support is available to academics who have been accepted to present a paper at any of the following conferences:

    *Econometric Society (European meeting and World Congress)
    *European Economic Association (EEA)
    *Annual meeting Royal Economic Society (RES)
    *Annual conference American Economic Association (AEA)
    *ASSA conference

    Accepted papers at conferences that are not listed above may still be considered for funding, at the discretion of the SIRE Programme Directors and based on evaluation by the SIRE Executive.

    SIRE will make two levels of financial support available, with the criteria as follows:

    1. For PhD students and junior staff (Lecturer) eligible expenses include the registration fee, travel and/or accommodation costs, provided an original receipt(s) is submitted.

    2. For senior staff (Senior Lecturer, Reader, Professor) the contribution will cover the registration fee only.

    3.Any shortfall of additional expenses is to be funded via an external grant or via the university economics department.

    PROCEDURE
    All applications must be made before attending the conference.

    Applicants should send an e-mail to info@sire.ac.uk, with a copy of the conference acceptance (email or pdf). In addition, an estimate of expenses should be itemised as follows:

    1.Conference registration fee (including any discount deadlines if applicable)

    2.Travel expenses (flight or rail)

    3.Accommodation expenses

    Note that items 2 and 3 are applicable to PhD students and junior academics only

    Following the e-mail application, a decision regarding the financial support will be made within 3 weeks.

    Once a conference participation grant has been offered, the SIRE logo and acknowledgement of financial support are to be included in the presented paper and in any subsequent paper revisions.

    Expenses are reimbursed after the conference, based on submitting all original receipts or alternatively through an itemised invoice by the presenter's university Finance Department.

    It is worth noting that the presented paper may feed into the SIRE Discussion Paper series.

    For further information please contact Gina Reddie, SIRE Administrator, gina.reddie@ed.ac.uk or 0131 650 40 66

    This announcement is also available from the SIRE website
    http://www.sire.ac.uk/documents/SIRE_Travel_Grant_2012.pdf

    10 Jan 2012
  • THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
    COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
    BUSINESS SCHOOL
    LECTURER IN BUSINESS ECONOMICS (2 POSTS) (full-time, open-ended)

    SALARY SCALE: £36,862 - £44,016 GRADE: UE08

    Applications are sought from academics for any areas within Business Economics.   The successful candidates are likely to have a background in one or more of the following areas:

    Economics of Banking
    Credit Risk Management

    The Business School has launched a new MSc in Banking & Risk, the first intake being planned for September 2012, and these posts will support this programme.   Depending on their specific areas of expertise, the successful candidates will be expected to teach courses such as Economics of Banking, Risk Management for Banks, Credit Risk Management and the Basel Accords, Financial Markets and Institutions, and Microfinance on the new programme.   The Group is also responsible for a range of courses on topics such as elementary Macroeconomics, Managerial Economics and Economics of Corporate Strategy on the School's general programmes (undergraduate, MSc and MBA).   Opportunities to develop new courses in relevant areas would also be available.   From time to time, members of academic staff may be asked to take on managerial and administrative duties, such as leadership of teaching programmes. 

    Contact: J.Crook@ed.ac.uk or t.archibald@ed.ac.uk

    See: http://www.jobs.ed.ac.uk/vacancies

    10 Jan 2012
  • FELLOWSHIP IN STATISTICS LEADING TO A PERMANENT LECTURESHIP.

    The School of Mathematics at The University of Edinburgh is seeking outstanding candidates for a five year Chancellor’s Fellowship in Statistics, and its applications, leading to a permanent lectureship. We expect candidates to have an established record of first-class research
    or to be able to demonstrate excellent research potential. Candidates must have a strong commitment to excellence in both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.

    For further particulars of the post please see: http://www2.maths.ed.ac.uk/jobs/chancellors-fellowship

    For general information in this post and information about applying please see:

    http://www.jobs.ed.ac.uk/vacancies/index.cfm?fuseaction=vacancies.detail&vacancy_ref=3015150

    Appointment will normally be made on the Lecturer scale (£36,862 - £44,016), dependent on experience, and in exceptional circumstances a more senior appointment may be made. Some positions are available with immediate effect and it is expected that successful applicants will be in post from August 2012.

    Applications containing a detailed CV and a 1-page outline of a proposed research programme should be made online at www.jobs.ed.ac.uk. General advice may be obtained by emailing chancellorsfellows@ed.ac.uk and specific details may be obtained from the Head of School of Mathematics (hos@maths.ed.ac.uk)

    The closing date for applications is 29th February 2012.  Early applications are particularly welcome.

     Informal enquiries can be addressed to Professor Colin Aitken, School of Mathematics, King’s Buildings, University of Edinburgh, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ.
    Tel:    0131 650 4877
    E-mail:  c.g.g.aitken@ed.ac.uk

    10 Jan 2012
  • Post Doctoral Research Associate in Operational Research at Lancaster University

    Management Science
    Salary: £25,101 to £35,788
    Closing Date: Sunday 11 December 2011
    Interview Date: To be confirmed
    Reference: A305

    This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a £13m initiative which brings together four British universities - Lancaster, Nottingham, Cardiff and Southampton - to develop world-leading work in the field of Operational Research (OR).

    The LANCS Initiative, supported with a Science and Innovation Award from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), will bring about a significant expansion of the national research base in OR to build new research capacity and help UK industry to compete in the global market.

    You will undertake OR research within one or more of the LANCS research themes and should be qualified to PhD level in a related subject and be able to demonstrate a strong and relevant research record.

    Informal enquiries to Professor Kevin Glazebrook, Director of the LANCS Initiative. Phone +44 (0) 1524 592697, email k.glazebrook@lancaster.ac.uk

    For further information please see:

    www.lums.lancs.ac.uk/departments/ManSci

    10 Jan 2012
  • This statistical bulletin presents national level information on activity relating to community penalties in Scotland, almost all of which is derived from Local Authority Social Work management information systems. It provides information on various aspects of criminal justice social work such as Social Enquiry Reports ( SERs) and social work orders (made up of Community Service Orders ( CSOs), Probation Orders ( POs), Supervised Attendance Orders ( SAOs) and Drug Treatment & Testing Orders ( DTTOs)). There is also some information on Community Payback Orders, which replaced CSOs, POs and SAOs for offences committed on or after 1 February 2011.

    Click here to read the report.

    20 Dec 2011
  • A report on meeting children's needs for care and protection has been published by the Scottish Universities Insight Institute following a series of seminars. It explores the use of routine administrative data for research and evaluation as well as methodologies for researching the effectiveness of public services/policy in meeting children's needs for care and protection over the longer term, including:

    1: Data linkage and mining: vision, possibilities and practicalities
    2: Design and methodology in longitudinal research: scope, approach and practicalities
    3: Consolidating collaborative partnerships: sharing and applying knowledge 

    An overview of the contributions made and the themes from the knowledge exchange aspects of the programme can be read in the full report, which is available at: http://www.scottishinsight.ac.uk/Portals/50/ChildProtection.pdf

    A number of recommendations for the future were made based upon the themes emerging from the many engaging contributions and discussions across the programme. A future event is planned in partnership with Scottish Government bringing together representatives from different policy teams and key stakeholders to look at data development in public services.

    Further information available from: Janice McGhee, Senior Lecturer in Social Work, University of Edinburgh, email: janice.mcghee@ed.ac.uk

    15 Dec 2011
  • Society Now is ESRC's regular magazine, bringing the latest and most topical social science research to key opinion formers in business, government and the voluntary sector. It is published three times a year and highlights research currently being undertaken by the UK's leading social scientists.

    View the magazine here.

    14 Dec 2011
  • This bulletin forms part of the Scottish Government series of statistical bulletins on the criminal justice system. Statistics are presented on criminal proceedings concluded in Scottish courts and on a range of non-court disposals issued by the police and by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service during 2010-11.

    Click here to view.

    14 Dec 2011
  • Publication includes information on public sector employment in Scotland with distinctions made for employment in devolved bodies and reserved bodies (located in Scotland).

    Click here to view.

    14 Dec 2011
  • Scotland’s Chief Statistician today published the latest figures on the number of homicides recorded by the 8 Scottish police forces in 2010-11.

    Click here to view.

    14 Dec 2011
  • UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH

    FELLOWSHIP IN STATISTICS LEADING TO A PERMANENT LECTURESHIP

    The School of Mathematics at The University of Edinburgh is seeking outstanding candidates for a five year Chancellor’s Fellowship in Statistics, and its applications, leading to a permanent lectureship. We expect candidates to have an established record of first-class research or to be able to demonstrate excellent research potential. Candidates must have a strong commitment to excellence in both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.

    For further particulars of the post please see:

    http://www2.maths.ed.ac.uk/jobs/chancellors-fellowship

    For general information in this post and information about applying please see:

    http://www.jobs.ed.ac.uk/vacancies/index.cfm?fuseaction=vacancies.detail&vacancy_ref=3015150

    Appointment will normally be made on the Lecturer scale (£36,862 - £44,016), dependent on experience, and in exceptional circumstances a more senior appointment may be made. Some positions are available with immediate effect and it is expected that successful applicants will be in post from August 2012.

    Applications containing a detailed CV and a 1-page outline of a proposed research programme should be made online at www.jobs.ed.ac.uk. General advice may be obtained by emailing chancellorsfellows@ed.ac.uk and specific details may be obtained from the Head of School of Mathematics (hos@maths.ed.ac.uk)

    The closing date for applications is 29th February 2012.  Early applications are particularly welcome. 

    Informal enquiries can be addressed to Professor Colin Aitken - 

    Professor Colin Aitken,
    Professor of Forensic Statistics,
    School of Mathematics, King’s Buildings, University of Edinburgh,
    Mayfield Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ.

    Tel:    0131 650 4877
    E-mail:  c.g.g.aitken@ed.ac.uk

    12 Dec 2011
  • Scottish Government has published a new analysis and guidance paper which uses the SIMD to compare indicators of income, employment, health, crime etc. between the most and least deprived parts of a local area - in this case Fife Council area. It is designed to act as an example to help others (e.g. other local authorities) to produce similar analysis for their own areas. To help with this the paper also provides guidance outlining how the analysis can be re-created for any chosen area.

    The paper can be found on the SIMD website: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/SIMD/LocalSIMDAnalysisFife

    This analysis was inspired by feedback to a consultation they ran prior to publication of SIMD 2009 in which a number of users expressed an interest in analysis of local indicators by SIMD: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/SIMD/consultationresponse

    06 Dec 2011
  • The latest edition of the ESDS Government Newsletter, Issue 18 - December 2011, is now available at www.esds.ac.uk/government/newsletter/

    Articles include an update on the General Lifestyle Survey, the Quarterly Labour Force Survey new ID variables, MethodBox Q & A and a report on the Housing Conference.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Call for papers - Opinions and Lifestyle Survey User Meeting

    ESDS Government is organising an Opinions and Lifestyle Survey user meeting for Wednesday 21 March 2012 at the Royal Statistical Society, London.

    The Opinions and Lifestyle Survey is a new survey that will be created in 2012 as a result of merging the ONS Opinions survey with some of the previous General Lifestyle Survey questions. For more information on this please see the ONS website at www.ons.gov.uk/ons/about-ons/consultations/closed-consultations/2011/the-future-of-the-glf-survey/index.html

    The User Meeting will provide users will valuable information from ONS on the content and methodology of the new survey. The meeting will also comprise a number of papers from users of the current ONS Opinions Survey and the General Lifestyle Survey. We, therefore, invite offers of presentations from researchers based on the analysis of either the ONS Opinions Survey or the General Lifestyle Survey.

    Please send your title and abstract, of around 200 words, to gillian.meadows@manchester.ac.uk as soon as possible but by 23 December at the latest.

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    Call for papers - Living Costs and Food Survey user meeting

    ESDS Government is organising it's first LCF user meeting for Tuesday 20 March 2012 at the Royal Statistical Society, London. The programme will contain a mixture of papers from data producers and researchers. We invite offers of presentations based on analysis of the Living Costs and Food Survey and the former Expenditure and Food Survey. Presenters will have 20 minutes for their talk followed by 10 minutes for questions.

    Please send your title and abstract, of around 200 words, to gillian.meadows@manchester.ac.uk as soon as possible but by 9 December at the latest.

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    Updated guides

    The following guides have been updated and are available from the resources web pages at www.esds.ac.uk/government/resources/


    *         Social capital: introductory user guide

    *         Guide to data sources for Northern Ireland

    *         Guide to data sources for Scotland

    *         Introduction to Complex Sample Design in UK Government Surveys

    06 Dec 2011
  • The ESRC have pre-announced a new initiative for funding of secondary data analysis projects.  The scheme, which will invest £10.8 million in projects over the next few years, is still being finalised but the closing date for proposals is expected to be April 2012 with most projects due to commence in October 2012.. The initiative aims to deliver high impact policy and practitioner relevant research through the deeper exploitation of the major data resources created by the ESRC and other agencies. The first phase will be formally announced shortly and will fund around 20 small scale projects of up to £200,000 (at full economic cost) each and with a maximum duration of 18 months.

    Applicants will be actively encouraged to seek early engagement with research users in the public and private sectors and civil society organisations. To help researchers understand the potential for many of these large datasets a series of data training workshops will be run as part of the Initiative, from November 2011 – March 2012.

    Further details will be available on the ESRC website: www.esrc.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/delivering-priorities-funding/secondary-data-analysis.aspx

    06 Dec 2011
  • The NCRM have announced their latest call for Training Bursaries. 

    Those interested in applying should go to www.ncrm.ac.uk/TandE/bursary/

    06 Dec 2011
  • Microsoft Research Funded PhD Scholarship in Machine Learning Markets
    Supervisor: Amos Storkey
    a.storkey@ed.ac.uk

    Microsoft Research Funded PhD Scholarship in Statistical Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing of Programming Language Text
    Supervisor: Charles Sutton
    csutton@inf.ed.ac.uk
    ======
    School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh
    Duration of Studentships: 36 months
    Preliminary deadline: 16 December 2011

    For further information see

    http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/amos/jobsphds.html

    http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/csutton/projects.html#nlppl

    06 Dec 2011
  • University of Glasgow College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences

    Professor or Reader/Senior Statistician in Clinical trials and Biostatistics

    Ref: M00317
    Salary: £46,696 - £52,556

    The Institute of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow is seeking to appoint a Professor or Senior Statistician/ Reader in Clinical Trials and Biostatistics in the Robertson Centre for Biostatistics and the Glasgow Clinical Trials Unit to develop a strong programme of collaborative applied research and personal research in clinical trials and/or biostatistical methodology.  The post will be established in the Robertson Centre for Biostatistics which forms the study design, data centre and biostatistics arm of the Glasgow Clinical Trials Unit.

    The Robertson Centre is recognised internationally due to its contributions to medical research through its work on major multi-centre clinical trials, epidemiological studies and other biomedical research projects.  The Centre has experience of collaboration in all areas of medicine and has excellent relations with medical and biological researchers in the pharmaceutical industry, the Health Service and other research organisations.
    The successful applicant will be expected to collaborate with scientific and clinical research groups in Glasgow and elsewhere, to build a portfolio of research grants and/or contracts and to develop a leadership role in the Centre.

    Applications are invited from candidates with an appropriate record of academic achievement.
    Appointment at Professorial or Readership level will be considered for candidates with the appropriate levels of distinction in terms of research and with the potential for research leadership.

    All candidates are required to indicate the post for which they are applying.

    Apply online at www.glasgow.ac.uk/jobs

    Closing date: 31 December 2011

    06 Dec 2011
  • Research Assistant  
    Department Employment Research Institute 
     
    Fixed-term 12 months
    
    This is an exciting opportunity to work on a variety of new and established projects at the
    Employment Research Institute. We are looking for a full time researcher with a strong
    quantitative research background (normally a PhD) in a related discipline; e.g. economics,
    quantitative social policy, statistics, geography. The main project will involve skills in the
    labour market. The Institute's unifying theme is developing human potential. We undertake research on a
    wide range of employment issues, especially in three broad areas:
    * Employability, social inclusion, skills, job creation and economic development and training
    * Equal Opportunities, well-being and work life balance and family-friendly policies
     
    You will have a background in one of the social sciences, excellent research skills,
    including quantitative and/or qualitative analysis, will be a good communicator who
    enjoys working as part of a team. Click here for more info.
    05 Dec 2011
  • Research Fellow 
    Department Employment Research Institute 
    
    Fixed -term for 2 years (linked to external funding - Working for Families)
    
    This is an exciting opportunity to work on a variety of new and established projects at the
    Employment Research Institute. We are looking for a full time researcher with a strong
    quantitative research background (PhD level) in a related discipline; e.g. economics,
    quantitative social policy, statistics, geography. The main project will involve employment
    and families and skills in the labour market. The Institute's unifying theme is developing human potential.
    We undertake research on a wide range of employment issues, especially in the broad
    areas: * Employment, Labour Markets, Employability, social inclusion, skills, job creation and
    economic development and training You will have a background in one of the social sciences, excellent research skills,
    including quantitative and/or qualitative analysis, will be a good communicator who
    enjoys working as part of a team. Click here for more info.
    05 Dec 2011
  • The 2010 Baseline describes the main characteristics of the CSGN area and the
    influences that have changed the landscape over time. It also presents a dataset of 10
    key indicators that capture the starting point of the CSGN in 2010. These indicators will be
    used to help track the progress of the CSGN towards our ambition of delivering a step
    change in environmental quality by 2050. www.centralscotlandgreennetwork.org/Monitoring-and-Evaluation/baseline2010.html
    05 Dec 2011
  • Applications are invited from eligible candidates for the following PhD opportunity:

    Project title: Modern methods for detecting examiner bias in naturalistic assessment data

    Background:
    This project aims to extend recent methodology involving hypothesis tests for detecting examiner bias to more naturalistic cases in which non-parametric assessment data cannot readily be Normalized and data may be categorical or sample sizes small. The successful candidate will have access to a rich and ongoing large database of examinee ratings for undergraduate medical students, commencing from 2001. This will facilitate the application of bootstrapping and Monte Carlo techniques to examine hypothesis test robustness and enhance the derivation of new approaches to obtaining associated confidence intervals. The research will apply specifically to cases where student scripts are double-marked, with one examiner having prior knowledge of student performance in a separate but related assessment. An emphasis will be placed on distinguishing between natural tendencies of individual students to perform well or poorly overall and consistency in perceived performance influenced by examiner bias. The research outcomes will therefore be of relevance across a wide range of disciplines where double marking is viewed as a reputable procedure for enhancing score reliability. Additionally, these outcomes will inform existing methodologies for detecting halo and horn effects within the more general literature on examiner bias. The final phase of the project will involve a more qualitative component requiring management of focus group sessions, with examiners as participants. The findings from this component will be used to explore the underlying sociocultural mechanisms which lead to halo and horn effects. This will in turn help to address the more philosophical issue of the extent to which such effects ought to be modelled as measurement error when estimating score reliability.
     
    For  further details of the project click here.
     
    If you wish to discuss this particular project in more detail, please contact  Margaret.MacDougall@ed.ac.uk in the first instance.
     
    General instructions on applying are provided below:
     
    Timetable
    Application closing date - 9 January 2012
    Selection interviews - w/c 23 January 2012
    Start date - Sept/Oct 2012

    Eligibility/Funding
    There is 1 scholarship on offer which is Home Fee (UK/EU) tuition rates only. Benefits include an annual stipend of approx. £13,590 per academic year (the rate for 2012/13 has not yet been confirmed), payment of tuition fees at the UK/EU rate and payment of bench fees.

    *Please note that applications from overseas students are welcome but individuals would be responsible for covering the remaining funds for the studentship themselves.*

    All benefits are subject to satisfactory annual reviews of progress.

    Qualifications
    Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, a good postgraduate degree (with an overall average of at least 60%), or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject. More specific qualifications are detailed in each project.

    Application process:
    When applying for PhD opportunities, please send or e-mail the following:

    1. Covering letter explaining which project (s) you are applying for and why interested in the topic
    2. Research proposal 
    3. Curriculum Vitae 
    4. Full academic transcripts (undergraduate and postgraduate; interim transcripts are acceptable if currently on programme) 
    5. 2 Academic References  
    6. Proof of Language Results, if applicable

    All documentation should be sent to:
    Maggie Luttrell
    Postgraduate Administrator
    Centre for Population Health Sciences
    University of Edinburgh
    Teviot Place
    Edinburgh, EH8 9AG
    United Kingdom

    Or by email to: Maggie.Luttrell@ed.ac.uk

    Closing date - 9 January 2012

    Should you have any further questions regarding the application process, please email Maggie.Luttrell@ed.ac.uk

    Interviews for short-listed candidates will be held in January 2012. Once chosen, the successful applicant will then complete the online application procedure for the University of Edinburgh.

    28 Nov 2011
  • The bulletin "Scottish Household Survey Travel Diary Results 2009/10" was published today.
    It provides information about the journeys made by adults living in private households.
    The topics covered include the means of transport used by different types of people, the
    purposes for which people travel, the distances that they go, the times of day at which trips
    start, the duration of journeys, the days of the week on which people travel, and car occupancy. 

    It is a Web only publication and can be accessed via the following link
    http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/analysis/statistics/publications/shs-travel-diary-results-previous-editions

    23 Nov 2011
  • The following new edition of Growig Up in Scotland has been released:
     
    SN 5760 - Growing Up in Scotland: Sweeps 1 to 5, 2005-2010

    Reason: For the ninth edition (November 2011), data and documentation from
    Sweep 5, conducted in 2009-2010, were added to the study. Users should note
    that Sweep 5 data were collected from the birth cohort only.

    14 Nov 2011
  • Location: London
    Salary:
    £20-£31k

    Department:
    Research

    Application deadline:
    27 Nov 2011

    We have an exciting opportunity for a research analyst with strong analytical skills and a good understanding of social policy in the UK.  The analyst will work with colleagues at all levels and be involved in proposal writing, literature reviews, the management, analysis and interpretation of survey data, report writing and the dissemination of findings.  The analyst may work across a number of policy areas that NatCen specialises in including:

    • income and work;
    • health and well-being;
    • crime and justice;
    • society and social change; and
    • children and young people.

    Requirements
    Applicants will have a social sciences degree with a significant research or statistics component, and experience of analysing large and complex survey data, using software packages such as SPSS, STATA or SAS.  Good writing and IT skills are essential.  The successful candidate will be expected to work on more than one project at a time, and hence have an ability to work well under pressure and manage deadlines effectively.

    For more details about this opportunity click here

    For a full job description click here

    About NatCen
    NatCen offers a friendly and intellectually stimulating environment with a high profile, challenging research programme. We offer flexible and favourable working conditions.

    Benefits include a generous holiday entitlement and a defined contribution pension scheme, as well as every other Friday off.

    For an informal discussion about the role, contact Matt Barnes, Research Director in the Income and Work Team - 020 7549 9535, Matt.Barnes@natcen.ac.uk

    Closing date for applications will be Sunday 27th November 2011. First stage interviews will be w/c 5th of December 2011 with second stage interviews w/c 12th December 2011. Please note that we are unable to accept CVs.

    10 Nov 2011
  • The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Medical Research Council (MRC) are pleased to announce the Call for the 'Cohort Resources Facility Leadership Team'. Funding from the Government's Large Facilities Capital Fund (LFCF) creates an opportunity to maximise the value of the existing studies, through the development of a new resource to facilitate research across the cohort studies.

    The Facility will provide a dedicated resource through the sharing of best practice and the development of new practices across cohorts which have been developed from both the social and biomedical sciences. The CRF will promote and showcase the UK's world leading portfolio of cohort studies, and will:

    • Stimulate interdisciplinary research across existing major cohort studies
    • Provide common resources for research purposes
    • Assist with training and development in longitudinal research.

    The successful applicant will establish and lead the Cohort Resources Facility for five years, from 1 July 2012 until 30 June 2017.

    Further information

    08 Nov 2011
  • The following new studies have been released:

    SN 6882  Childcare and Early Years Provision: Providers' Survey, 2010

    SN 6691  Social Participation and Identity, 2007-2010: Combining Quantitative Longitudinal Data with a Qualitative Investigation of a Sub-Sample of the 1958 National Child Development Study

    SN 6877  Motivated Identity Construction in Cultural Context, 2008-2011

    SN 6883  Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People, 2010

    ****************************************************************************************************************

    The following new editions have been released:

    SN 5828  Households Below Average Income, 1994/95-2009/10

    SN 4732  European Social Survey: Rounds 1-5, 2002-2010

    SN 6713  Scottish Health Survey, 2009

    SN 5807  Arrestee Survey, 2003-2006

    SN 6533  National Diet and Nutrition Survey, 2008-2010

    ****************************************************************************************************************

    The following studies have been released to the ESDS Nesstar Catalogue:

    SN 5350  Millennium Cohort Study: Second Survey, 2003-2005

    SN 5795  Millennium Cohort Study: Third Survey, 2006

    SN 6411  Millennium Cohort Study: Fourth Survey, 2008

    *****************************************************************************************************************

    The following new edition has been released to the ESDS Nesstar Catalogue:

    SN 6713  Scottish Health Survey, 2009

    *****************************************************************************************************************

    For the latest information on all ESDS International data portfolio updates, visit www.esds.ac.uk/international/news/dataupdate.asp

    *****************************************************************************************************************

    To order or to view further information on these data collections, or for access to the whole collection, please see the online catalogue web page:

    www.esds.ac.uk/Lucene/Search.aspx

    07 Nov 2011
  • The University of Strathclyde currently have 2 job vacancies advertised within the School of Government and Public Policy:

    Lecture in Public Policy
    Professor in Quantitative and Political Behaviour

    Full details at: http://www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/schoolofgovernmentandpublicpolicy/

    07 Nov 2011
  • People’s satisfaction with life and other individual assessments of well-being are at the heart of measuring the nation’s well-being according to the Office for National Statistics.

    Launched on 31st October, ONS is opening a consultation on key themes and headline indicators of national well-being, which they propose are vital in understanding how to measure the UK’s progress by more than just its economic performance.

    ONS has developed ten key themes, of which individual well-being is one, along with an initial set of measures following extensive feedback to the national debate “what matters to you?”, as well as by studying further research.

    The themes or “domains” and the initial measures will be used in discussions with interested groups and individuals to assess their potential as eventual indicators to measure the UK’s national well-being.

    The set of domains are:

    • Individual well-being
    • Our relationships
    • Health
    • What we do
    • Where we live
    • Personal finance
    • Education and skills
    • Governance
    • The economy
    • The natural environment

    The consultation will run for twelve weeks with the results to be published in Spring 2012.  There is a discussion paper and facilities for responding on the ONS website at:
    http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/social-trends-rd/social-trends/uk-measures-of-national-well-being/measuring-national-well-being---discussion-paper-on-domains-and-measures.html

    02 Nov 2011
  • The Centre for Multilevel Modelling has released a new module on their on-line training: Single-level and multilevel models for ordinal responses.

    In Module 6 we saw how multiple regression models for continuous responses can be generalised to handle binary responses, and in Module 7 these models were further extended for the analysis of binary data with a two-level hierarchical structure. This module considers standard (single-level) and multilevel models for ordinal categorical response variables, where the numeric codes assigned to categories imply some ordering. We begin with a description of two approaches for the analysis of single-level ordinal data:

    1. the cumulative logit model which is appropriate for variables such as Likert scale items, where respondents are asked to indicate their strength of agreement with a statement from 'strongly agree' to 'strongly disagree', and educational tests where marks are available as grades rather than percentage scores; and
    2. the continuation ratio model for ordinal responses that can be viewed as the result of a series of sequential decisions or actions (e.g. highest level of educational qualifications).

    We then show how the cumulative logit model can be extended for the analysis of data with a two-level hierarchical structure. Further details:
    http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cmm/learning/course-topics.html#m09

    01 Nov 2011
  • 1. Improvements to the ADLS website - www.adls.ac.uk

    • Improved facility to search for administrative data.
    • Improved guidance to help you apply for and use administrative data for research.
    • New section covering administrative data related studies and surveys.
    • New section on UK safe settings available for administrative data research.
    • Quick links section to aid navigation around the site.

    2. ADLS Trusted Third Party Service.
    The ADLS TTP is a facility to enable the linkage or enhancement of administrative data for research purposes where there are privacy or security concerns.  We are currently seeking a research project to help demonstrate the benefits of this service.  More details about this are available on the ADLS website at www.adls.ac.uk.

    3. P-ADLS (Portal of the Administrative Data Liaison Service).
    Administrative data is typically made available to researchers for time limited applications, so there is not the same possibility for archiving datasets.  As a result, replication and further research of a dataset often requires repeating the time consuming process of data cleaning, development and transformation of the data.  P-ADLS is a new online development to help solve this problem and improve the consistency, quality and quantity of administrative data research, by providing researchers and data holding organisations with a facility to archive research useful indicators, measures, syntax and files. 

    P-ADLS is currently in beta format and will be developed over the coming months.  We would like to encourage you to submit resources to the P-ADLS bank and appreciate that this may take some time and effort.  As a small gesture of our appreciation we will gift you a £20 Amazon token for each resource submitted to P-ADLS.  More information is available from http://www.adls.ac.uk/padls/.

    4. ADLS is on Twitter.
    The ADLS is now on Twitter.  You can start receiving our tweets about administrative data by following us here - http://twitter.com/#!/adlstweet.

    01 Nov 2011
  • Scotland's Chief Statistician today published the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) 2010-11: Main Findings.

    This publication presents information on the people of Scotland's perceptions and experience of crime and victimisation including crimes that are not reported to the police, on their attitudes to the police, the courts and prisons, and on their general impressions of how safe from crime and disorder Scottish society is.

    The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey has been assessed by the UK Statistics Authority and has been designated as a National Statistics product which means that it is compliant with the Code of Practice on Official Statistics, produced according to sound methods and managed impartially and objectively in the public interest.

    The SCJS is the data source for two National Indicators for Scotland's National Performance Framework - crime victimisation rate and public perception of general crime rate in local area.

    The results published in the Main Findings report include headline estimates for most questions contained in the SCJS 2010-11.

    Main Findings


    01 Nov 2011
  • 25 Oct 2011
  • On the 31st of October 2011, the United Nations predict the population of the world will reach 7 billion. To mark this, the ESRC Centre for Population Change (CPC), in conjunction with the University of Southampton and Aberdeen, is hosting an event as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences.

    The event will bring together scholars, policy makers, teachers, sixth form students and members of the general public, to discuss what we know about the population of the world at 7 billion and the issues facing a growing, diverse and ageing population.

    Further details

    20 Oct 2011
  • The Jon Rasbash prize for Quantitative Social Science is awarded biennially for early career achievement in the field of quantitative social science. This new award has been established to commemorate the contributions to quantitative social science of Jon Rasbash, who was Professor of Computational Statistics and Director of the Centre for Multilevel Modelling at the University of Bristol. Jon was principally known for his development of multilevel methodology and its software implementation and for his research on studying social relationships within families. Through the development of the MLwiN software and teaching at numerous workshops worldwide, he played a major role in the adoption of multilevel modelling as a mainstream statistical technique.

    The £500 prize recognizes early career achievement in the development and/ or application of advanced quantitative methods in any social science discipline. Applicants should be UK residents and in the first 10 years of their research career (including periods of postgraduate study).

    The prize will be awarded on the basis of a research paper published in a peer-reviewed journal in 2010 or 2011. The applicant should be the sole or lead author of the paper.

    The deadline for submissions is 1 December 2011. Applicants should submit their paper to info-cmm@bristol.ac.uk, together with a short summary of the paper's contribution to the development or application of advanced quantitative methods in social research. In the case of co-authored papers, a statement of the applicant's contribution should also be submitted.

    Applications will be assessed by a panel including Professors Harvey Goldstein, Lindsay Paterson, Chris Skinner, Fiona Steele and Patrick Sturgis.

    The prize will be presented at the next Research Methods Festival, which will be held at the University of Oxford, 2-5 July 2012.

    Full details at: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cmm/research/rasbash-prize.html

    20 Oct 2011
  • Life expectancy has increased by almost three years for men and two years for women over the past decade, according to a report published today by the Registrar General for Scotland.

    Based on statistics covering 2008-2010, the report shows that life expectancy is now 75.8 years for men and 80.4 years for women in Scotland.

    Registrar General for Scotland George MacKenzie said:

    "This report shows that life expectancy continues to vary widely across Scotland.

    "The highest life expectancy is in East Dunbartonshire Council area and lowest in Glasgow City Council area, for both for men and women. People living in rural areas, in general, live longer than those in towns.

    "Men in the least deprived areas of Scotland may live 13.2 years longer than those in the most deprived areas while women in the least deprived areas can expect to live 8.9 years longer than those in the most deprived."

    The key points in this report for 2008-2010 are:

    At birth

    • Life expectancy was 75.8 years for men and 80.4 years for women, although there were considerable variations in different areas of Scotland.
    • Male and female life expectancy was highest in East Dunbartonshire Council area and lowest in Glasgow City Council area. Males in East Dunbartonshire can expect to live for 79.4 years, nearly eight years longer than in Glasgow City (71.6 years). Females in East Dunbartonshire can expect to live for 82.7 years, nearly five years longer than in Glasgow City (78.0 years).
    • Life expectancy at birth was highest for males in accessible rural areas (78.3 years) where they can expect to live nearly four years longer than males in large urban areas, who have a life expectancy at birth of 74.5 years. Female life expectancy at birth was highest in remote rural areas (82.2 years), more than two years longer than in large urban areas where it was lowest (79.8 years).
    • Life expectancy is higher where deprivation is lower. Males in the 10 per cent least deprived areas of Scotland can expect to live for 81.4 years, 13.2 years longer than males in the 10 per cent most deprived areas (68.2 years). Females in the 10 per cent least deprived areas can expect to live for 84.6 years, nearly nine years longer than those in 10 per cent most deprived areas (75.7 years).

    Compared with the UK and Europe

    • Scottish males and females have the lowest life expectancy at birth within the UK. Male life expectancy is 2.4 years lower than the UK average and female life expectancy is 1.9 years lower.
    • In Scotland, males and females can expect to live shorter lives (by 2.7 years and 2.1 years respectively) than in England, where male and female life expectancy is the highest in the UK.
    • Amongst European Union (EU) countries, male life expectancy was highest in Sweden (79.4 years), 3.6 years higher than in Scotland. Female life expectancy was highest in France (85.0 years), 4.6 years higher than in Scotland.

    Changes over time

    • Male and female life expectancy has continued to rise across Scotland, by nearly three years since the period 1998-2000 for males and by two years for females.
    • The biggest improvements in male life expectancy were in Argyll and Bute Council area (3.9 years), Highland NHS Board area (3.7 years) and Mid Highland Community Partnership area (five years).
    • The biggest improvements in female life expectancy were in City of Edinburgh Council area, increasing by 2.9 years, Lothian Health Board area, increasing by 2.6 years and Edinburgh Community Health Partnership area, increasing by 2.9 years.

    At age 65

    • Males in Scotland could expect to live for a further 16.8 years and females a further 19.3 years.
    • East Dunbartonshire Council area had the highest male life expectancy at age 65 (18.9 years), 4.6 years higher than in Glasgow City, where it was lowest at 14.3 years. Female life expectancy at age 65 was also highest in East Dunbartonshire (21.1 years) and lowest in Glasgow City (17.8 years), a difference of 3.3 years.

    View the report

    19 Oct 2011
  • Rob Calver wrote an interesting invitation on the R mailing list today, inviting potential authors to submit their vision of the next great book about R. The announcement originated from the Chapman & Hall/CRC publishing houses, backed up by an impressive team of R celebrities, chosen as the editors of this new R books series, including:

    • John M. Chambers
    • Torsten Hothorn
    • Duncan Temple Lang
    • Hadley Wickham

    Read the announcement

     

    19 Oct 2011
  • Research Data MANTRA is a course designed for PhD students and others who are planning a research project using digital data.

    This is a non-credit, free course which provides guidelines for good practice in research data management.  The course is particularly appropriate for postgraduate students and early career researchers who work with data and would like to learn more about managing their research data. The course content is mainly geared for three disciplines: geosciences, social and political sciences and clinical psychology, however, many of the issues covered apply equally to all research disciplines.

    Further details and access the course

    18 Oct 2011
  • A recent INSPIRE event hosted by the UK Data Archive and EDINA has prompted a flurry of communications and ideas surrounding the future use of geospatial data in the social sciences. 
    On 7 October 2011, social science researchers joined geospatial data and service providers to contemplate the INSPIRE EU directive, which aims to create a European spatial data infrastructure to improve the sharing of spatial information between public authorities and to improve public access. The group examined in particular the Annex III data specifications, affecting social sciences data on human health and safety, utility and government services, and population distribution and demography.

    Speakers included representatives from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research (WISERD), the Swedish National Data Service, EDINA and the UK Data Archive. Their presentation slides are now available on the UK Data Archive website.

    Event highlights were blogged live, thanks to the JISC-funded Geospatial Engagement and Community Outreach (GECO) project team. And the Archive’s U.Geo project team (also funded by JISC) followed up with comments and reflections on their own blog.

    Researchers and data professionals with an interest in this area are invited to learn more and join the conversation. Presentation slides are now available online, along with blog details at the following link:

    http://www.data-archive.ac.uk/news-events/news.aspx?id=3012

    17 Oct 2011
  • This 4 day workshop will take place at the University of Glasgow.

    Details of the event available on the events page.

    03 Oct 2011
  • The latest Scottish Health Survey report has been published today:

    http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/09/27084018/0

    27 Sep 2011
  • Today, Tuesday 27th September, the ESRC announced the call for the UK Data Service Census support service  to deliver data access and user support to Census data. The Service will deliver specialist user support and bespoke interface and analysis tools for, area, digital boundary, interaction and micro data from the 2011 Census and earlier UK Censuses of Population.

    At present access to Census data is delivered through the ESRC 2001 Census Programme. The Programme provides academic access, expert user support and the representation of academic census user requirements to the census organisations through a network of data support units and a co-ordinator. The current phase of the Programme has seen the establishment of Research Support Units for each of the three regional Census Longitudinal Studies. Their introduction not only provided further opportunity to increase access and use of Census data, but the investment also forms part of our broader strategic  drive on data linkage.

    We are now commissioning a new UK Data Service that will unify and extend the existing functionality offered by our data services, including functions currently provided by the 2001 Census Programme, and will provide simpler and seamless access to data resources in order to maximise their use and impact. The Census support service will be one of a series of value added services commissioned to focus on specialist user support, and bespoke interface and analysis tools for complex or very heavily used datasets. These services will also promote access to new forms of data to extend their research opportunities; and explore different ways of exploiting and handling various types of data. Whilst contracted separately, the Census support service will form part of the UK Data Service.

    The Census support service call has a budget of £2 million. Proposals should be costed at 100 per cent full Economic Cost (fEC), and the ESRC will meet 80 per cent of the fEC (exceptions to this are detailed in the ESRC Research Funding Guide). Our contribution will not exceed £2 million.

    Full proposals must be submitted to the ESRC via the Joint Electronic Submission System (Je-S) by 16.00 on 13 December 2011. If you are not currently Je-S registered and intend to apply, please ensure that you allow sufficient time for registration as no extensions to the deadline will be permitted. Hard-copy, faxed or e-mail applications will not be accepted.
    Research Support Units for the England and Wales; Scotland; and Northern Ireland Census Longitudinal Studies and the UK Census Longitudinal Study Development Hub

    We will shortly be announcing a call for Research Support Units for the England and Wales; Scotland; and Northern Ireland Census Longitudinal Studies.

    Further information

    27 Sep 2011
  • Statistics were published on 30 August 2011 presenting information on reconviction rates for all offenders who were released from custody or given non-custodial sentences. The rates are shown by the age and sex of offenders; by sentence type and the main crime for which they were convicted; by their previous conviction history; and by geographical area.

    Further information:
    Web: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/PubReconvictions

    27 Sep 2011
  • ISD Scotland released a series of health statistics on 30th August 2011.

    Click on the link below to access ISD Scotland’s website where details of each publication along with a link to the statistics are provided.
    http://www.isdscotland.org

    27 Sep 2011
  • Have you used data from the European Social Survey, looked at the ESS data website, browsed the questionnaires, read methodological papers, attended ESS presentations at conferences and still want to know more?

    The Central Coordinating Team (CCT) of the European Social Survey (ESS) welcome visitors to the seven Survey Competences Centres. Researchers across Europe are offered the opportunity to make short visits to the Centres and engage directly with the scientific and research staff.

    If you are interested in cross-national research and live in one of the ESS participating countries this will give you a chance to see the internal operations of the ESS in person.

    Further information:
    http://www.europeansocialsurvey.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=336&Itemid=403

     

     

    27 Sep 2011
  • InFuse is a new interface to UK Census aggregate datasets making it easier to search data across datasets and interpret the data by providing metadata bundled withj the data downloads.

    Further information:
    http://infuse.mimas.ac.uk/index.html

    27 Sep 2011
  • Closing date for applications:11 Oct 2011.
     
    This is a one-year post.

    You will carry out research with Professor William Browne, Dr George Leckie and other colleagues both in Bristol and elsewhere as part of the quantitative research node in the ESRC’s Digital Social Research program. You will be employed as a research associate with skills in statistics and/or computing as part of a large team of researchers based in several universities. The project is producing a series of tools which will enhance the entire research process.  These include a new piece of software, STAT-JR for fitting statistical models primarily by Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. This software generates code to fit specific models given user input and you will have involvement in the development and testing of this software.

    For further details, including information on how to apply online, please go to
    http://www.bris.ac.uk/boris/jobs/feeds/ads?ID=101831

    27 Sep 2011
  • The Centre for Multilevel Modelling have released MLwiN 2.24. It is now possible to read Stata 12 data sets from MLwiN. For further details of other new features and bug fixes go to:

    http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cmm/software/mlwin/bugs/fixes.html

    Upgrade to latest version:
    http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cmm/software/mlwin/download/upgrades.html

    About MLwiN:  http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cmm/software/mlwin/

    27 Sep 2011
  • Scotcen are looking for a new director for one of their most important studies, the Scottish Health Survey, for which they have recently secured a new four-year contract. This role would be based at the offices of ScotCen in Edinburgh but - beyond commitments on SHeS - would not preclude involvement in other NatCen-wide studies and initiatives.

    Applications are sought from suitably qualified and experienced Research Professionals.

    The nature of the project responsibilities associated with this post will require especially strong skills in survey research and project management.

    For a full job description see:

    http://www.natcen.ac.uk/about-us/job-opportunities/research-director

    For more information about ScotCen and NatCen, see www.natcen.ac.uk
    and www.scotcen.org.uk

    26 Sep 2011
  • ESRC-SG student internship scheme 2012
    Internships with the Scottish Government in 2012 are offered in the following areas:

    Internship with the Strategic Research Team
    • Internship with the Social Research and Analysis in Government Unit (two or three internships)
    • Reporting findings from the 2010-11 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey’s self-completion drug use module
    • Public attitudes to sentencing
    • Analytical support for the Reassuring the Public Programme on the Justice System
    • An analytical assessment of the Implications of the Hills Review of Fuel Poverty for Scotland
    • An evidence review and economic assessment of the costs and benefits of different approaches to providing heat and power in housing
    • Examining the housing challenges from a care in the home policy environment in 2012
    • Housing research
    • Parenting - The role of fathers
    • Exploring Scottish data on the impact of multiple discrimination
    • Exploring the impact of domestic abuse
    • Social profiling of fisheries communities
    • Scottish Health Survey secondary analysis
    • Research and analysis in the area of health and community care services
    • Support for the Climate Change Behaviours Research Programme
    • Analysis of the Scottish Public Bodies Corporate Benchmarking Survey
    • Stimulating innovation within Public Sector Procurement
    • Consultancy and corporate priorities (up to four internships)
    • Commonwealth Games Legacy (two internships)
    • International engagement and international development (two or three internships)
    • Concepts of national identity in contemporary Scotland
    • Energy in Scotland Analysis and Interpretation
    • Analytical Support for the Police Service (two internships)
    • A pool of successful students who are open to consider internships in any area of the Scottish Government during 2012.

    ESRC-funded PhD Students who will be in their second or third year of study between January and October 2012 are invited to apply for opportunities outlined below under the following categories:

    1. Application for a specific project in a Directorate from the list of projects described.
    2. Application for consideration for inclusion in a ‘pool’ of PhD students who are willing to consider Internships in any area of the Scottish Government, and on any projects, which may arise during 2012

    Please see attached document for full details.

    08 Sep 2011
  • 2½ DAYS PER WEEK £71,250

    The UK Statistics Authority is responsible for reinforcing the independence, integrity and quality of statistics produced in Government. The Authority exists to promote and safeguard the quality and comprehensiveness of official statistics that serve the public good, with a remit that extends across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Authority is responsible for the work of the Office for National Statistics, which employs over 3,000 staff in Newport (Wales), Titchfield (Hampshire) and Pimlico in London.

    The Chair will lead the work of the Authority to promote the quality and integrity of all UK official statistics and their independence; you will work closely with the National Statistician; and manage key relationships with Parliament, Government ministers and with key stakeholders including statistical users. You will be responsible for building on the reforms brought about by the 2007 Act, identifying and implementing any further changes to the official statistics system.

    You will have excellent strategic, leadership and communication skills. You must be able to manage and develop a high performing, multi-skilled organisation, and develop complex stakeholder relationships at the highest level in Government, industry and academia. You will be used to working under pressure and under a high level of scrutiny. You need not be a professional statistician, but will need to have a strong understanding of the use and value of statistics both within and outside Government and the aims of statistical independence.

    More about the UK Statistics Authority can be found at: http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk

    For further information about the UKSA Chair please visit http://www.uksaseniorappointments.com  

    For an informal and confidential conversation, call our advising consultants at Gatenby Sanderson: Juliet Taylor on 020 7426 3990 or Mark Turner on 020 7426 3983.

    Applications must arrive no later than Monday 3 October.

    In line with increasing scrutiny of public appointments to key posts, appointment as Chair to the Authority is subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Public Administration Select Committee.

    07 Sep 2011
  • An explanation of what weights are and details on how to perform weighted analyses in MLwiN, along with the results of a simulation study that tested the performance of MLwiN's weighting facility. 

    Further details:
    http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cmm/software/support/support-faqs/weights.html

    07 Sep 2011
  • The Centre for Multilevel Modelling at the University of Bristol is seeking to appoint an applied statistician to work on a new ESRC-funded project, Longitudinal Effects, Multilevel Modelling and Applications (LEMMA 3).

    LEMMA 3 is one of six Nodes of the National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM). The LEMMA 3 Node will focus on methods for the analysis of longitudinal data.

    The appointment, at Research Assistant or Research Associate level, will be for 2.5 years with likelihood of extension to the end of September 2014.

    For further details, including information on how to apply online, please go to
    http://www.bris.ac.uk/boris/jobs/feeds/ads?ID=100571

    07 Sep 2011
  • Scotland's Chief Statistician has published Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2010-11. The publication presents statistics on crimes and offences recorded and cleared up by the eight Scottish police forces in 2010-11.

    The figures show that the total number of crimes recorded by the police decreased by 4 per cent between 2009-10 and 2010-11. In 2010-11, the Scottish police recorded 323,060 crimes.

    The main findings are:

    • The number of violent crimes (non-sexual crimes of violence) recorded by the police increased by 2 per cent between 2009-10 and 2010-11, to a total of 11,438.
    • The number of sexual crimes (crimes of indecency) increased by 1 per cent, from 6,458 in 2009-10 to 6,509 in 2010-11.
    • The number of crimes of dishonesty increased by 2 per cent to stand at 155,870 cases in 2010-11.
    • Recorded cases of vandalism (including fire-raising and malicious mischief) decreased by 12 per cent to total 82,020 in 2010-11.
    • Other recorded crimes (including drug offences, crimes against public justice and offensive weapons offences) decreased by 9 per cent to total 67,223 in 2010-11.
    • The clear-up rate for all recorded crimes in 2010-11 was 49 per cent, which is the same as in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
    • The clear-up rate in 2010-11 for non-sexual crimes of violence is higher than in 2009-10, increasing from 67 per cent to 72 per cent. The rate for crimes of dishonesty has decreased by 1 percentage point and the rates for fire-raising and vandalism and for miscellaneous offences have decreased by 1 percentage point each. The rates for crimes of indecency and the other crimes group remain unchanged from the previous year
    • In 2010-11 the police recorded 530,436 offences, a decrease of 6 per cent from the number in 2009-10.

    http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/09/06091156

    06 Sep 2011
  • the Centre for Census and Survey Research - http://www.ccsr.ac.uk  - at the University of Manchester short course training programme in social research methods and statistics begins again in September. See www.ccsr.ac.uk/courses/list
    05 Sep 2011
  • Socio-Economic Statistician / Senior Socio-Economic Statistician

    Starting Salary £26,610 - £29,566 / £33,780 - £37,534 -- plus contributory public sector pension

    Biomathematics & Statistics Scotland (BioSS) has an international reputation for methodological development in statistics, mathematical modelling and bioinformatics.  BioSS offers a stimulating working environment, with over 30 staff at four different locations, working on applications in plant science, animal health and welfare, ecology & environmental science and nutrition & human health.

    We seek a quantitative scientist with excellent technical and interpersonal skills to be based in BioSS’s Edinburgh office. The post-holder will act as a focal point for statistical inputs to socio-economic research. Activities will include: collaboration with and provision of advice to researchers at partner institutions; development of statistical methods applicable to aspects of animal disease surveillance; development of an area of personal research which addresses methodological issues arising in these collaborations. Much of this work will be undertaken as part of a Scottish Government initiative to reduce the impact of animal disease outbreaks, to be delivered by the continuation of a current collaboration between research institutes and universities on epidemiology, population health and disease control.

    Applicants should have: 

    * a strong statistical background; 
    * enthusiasm for promoting the benefits of statistical thinking in a research environment; 
    * experience of methodological development and collaboration with scientists substantiated by a record of scientific publications for appointment at the senior grade.

    Further information on the above post, including how to apply, is available on the BioSS website at http://www.bioss.ac.uk/vacancies.html

    Closing date - Friday 23rd September 2011, Interview date 4th October 2011.

    Post Ref - BioSS/4/11. Potential applicants may contact Dr Iain McKendrick, (i.mckendrick@bioss.ac.uk), tel +44 (0) 131 650 4894), in confidence to discuss the post. 

    01 Sep 2011
  • Transport and Travel in Scotland 2010 is a new publication which replaces both the Main Transport Trends and Household Transport publications.   It has been published today and is available here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00925

    The bulletin summarises a broad range of transport statistics including road vehicles, traffic, casualties, bus and rail passengers, road and rail freight, air and water transport and personal travel as well as providing some comparisons with GB figures. Further breakdowns of
    Scottish Household Survey transport data including households' access to cars and bikes, frequency of driving, modes of travel to work and school, use and opinions of public transport and access to services are also presented.

    31 Aug 2011
  • The following new studies have been released:

    SN 6845  Kids' Life and Times Survey, 2011
    SN 6685  Scottish Crime and Justice Survey, 2009-2010
    SN 6855  Taking Part: the National Survey of Culture, Leisure and Sport, 2010-2011; Adult and Child Data
    SN 6847  Millennium Cohort Study: Third Survey Teacher Survey and Foundation Stage Profile, 2006
    SN 6848  Millennium Cohort Study: Fourth Survey Teacher Survey, 2008
    SN 6854  ONS Opinions Survey, December 2008
    SN 6829  ONS Opinions Survey, October 2009
    SN 6828  ONS Opinions Survey, September 2009
    SN 6825  ONS Opinions Survey, March 2009
    SN 6826  ONS Opinions Survey, July 2009
    SN 6827  ONS Opinions Survey, August 2009
    SN 6812  Renaissance Hub Museum Exit Survey, 2008-2009
    SN 6811  Renaissance Hub Museum Exit Survey, 2007-2008
    SN 6813  Renaissance Hub Museum Exit Survey, 2009-2010

    The following new editions have been released:

    SN 6721  Annual Population Survey, 2004-2010: Secure Data Service Access
    SN 6727  Quarterly Labour Force Survey, 1992-2010: Secure Data Service Access

    For the latest information on all ESDS International data portfolio updates, visit http://www.esds.ac.uk/international/news/dataupdate.asp

    To order or to view further information on these data collections, or for access to the whole collection, please see the online catalogue web page:

    http://www.esds.ac.uk/search/searchStart.asp

    30 Aug 2011
  • Please see below for details of the following ESRC Internships.  

    ESRC and Ministry of Justice internship initiative

    This joint initiative between the ESRC and Ministry of Justice is an opportunity for current ESRC PhD award holders in full time study (or part time equivalent) to undertake an internship at Ministry of Justice working on a topic grounded in the social science.  There are four internships for this organisation, available to be undertaken throughout 2012. See the project details document on the ESRC website for further information.

    http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/16980/ministry-of-justice-internship-initiative.aspx

    The closing date for applications to the ESRC-Ministry of Justice initiative is 30 September 2011.

    ESRC and Cabinet Office internship initiative

    This joint initiative between the ESRC and Cabinet Office is an opportunity for current ESRC PhD award holders in full time study (or part time equivalent) to undertake an internship at Cabinet Office working on a topic grounded in the social science. There are six internships for this organisation, available to be undertaken throughout 2012. See the project details document on the ESRC webstie for further information.

    http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/16973/cabin
    et-office-internship-initiative.aspx

    The closing date for applications to the ESRC-Cabinet Office initiative is 30 September 2011.

    ESRC and Home Office (UK Border Agency) internship initiative

    This joint initiative between the ESRC and Home Office is an opportunity for current ESRC PhD award holders in full time study (or part time equivalent) to undertake an internship at Home Office working on a topic grounded in the social science.  There is one internship for this organisation, available to be undertaken throughout 2012. See the project details document on the ESRC Website for further information.

    http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/16975/ESRC_
    and_Home_Office_UK_Border_Agency_internship_initiative_.aspx

    The closing date for applications to the ESRC-Home Office initiative is 30 September 2011.

    ESRC and British Library internship initiative

    This joint initiative between the ESRC and British Library is an opportunity for current ESRC PhD award holders in full time study (or part time equivalent) to undertake an internship at British Library working on a topic grounded in the social science. There is one internship for this organisation, available to be undertaken throughout 2012. See the project details document on the ESRC webstie for further information.

    http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/16972/briti
    sh-library-internship-initiative.aspx

    The closing date for applications to the ESRC-British Library initiative is 30 September 2011.

    ESRC and Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) internship initiative

    This joint initiative between the ESRC and Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) is an opportunity for current ESRC PhD award holders in full time study (or part time equivalent) to undertake an internship at ACAS working on a topic grounded in the social science. There is one internship for this organisation, available to be undertaken throughout 2012, please see the host organisation project details on the ESRC website for further information.

    http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/16971/ESRC_
    and_Advisory_Conciliation_and_Arbitration_Service_ACAS_internship_initiative
    _.aspx

    The closing date for applications to the ESRC-ACAS initiative is 30 September 2011.

    ESRC and Scrutiny Unit internship initiative

    This joint initiative between the ESRC and Scrutiny Unit is an opportunity for current ESRC PhD award holders in full time study (or part time equivalent) to undertake an internship at Scrutiny Unit working on a topic grounded in the social science. There are three internships for this organisation, available to be undertaken throughout 2012. See the project details document on the ESRC website for further information.

    http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/16982/scrut
    iny-unit-internship-initiative.aspx

    The closing date for applications to the ESRC-Scrutiny Unit initiative is 30 September 2011.

    ESRC and Sentencing Council for England and Wales internship initiative

    This joint initiative between the ESRC and Sentencing Council for England and Wales is an opportunity for current ESRC PhD award holders in full time study (or part time equivalent) to undertake an internship at Sentencing Council for England and Wales working on a topic grounded in the social science. There are five internships for this organisation, available to be undertaken throughout 2012. See the project details document on the ESRC website for
    further information.

    http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/16983/sente
    ncing-council-for-england-and-wales-internship-initiative.aspx

    The closing date for applications to the ESRC-Sentencing Council for England and Wales initiative is 30 September 2011.

    ESRC and Lloyd's of London internship initiative

    This joint initiative between the ESRC and Lloyd's of London is an opportunity for current ESRC PhD award holders in full time study (or part time equivalent) to undertake an internship at Lloyd's working on a topic grounded in the social science. There is one internship for this organisation, available to be undertaken throughout 2012. See the project details document on the ESRC website for further information.

    http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/16979/lloyd
    s-of-london-internship-initiative.aspx

    The closing date for applications to the ESRC-Lloyd's of London initiative is 30 September 2011.

    30 Aug 2011
  • The presentation slides from our recent showcasing UK administrative data conference are now available to download from the ADLS website. 

    The conference was attended by over 130 people from a wide variety of backgrounds including government, academic, charity and private sectors.

    The slides can be downloaded from here:

    http://www.adls.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ADLS-conference-slides-portfolio.pdf

    25 Aug 2011
  • The Centre for Multilevel Modelling is very pleased to announce the addition of R practicals to our free on-line multilevel modelling course. These give detailed instructions of how to carry out a range of analyses in R, starting from multiple regression and progressing through to multilevel modelling of continuous and binary data using the lmer and glmer functions.

    MLwiN and Stata versions of these practicals are already available. You will need to log on or register onto the course to view these practicals.

    Read More...
    http://www.cmm.bris.ac.uk/lemma/course/view.php?id=13

    25 Aug 2011
  • 1. HMRC Datalab

    The HMRC Datalab is a new Research Data Centre that allows access to anonymised HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) data for approved academic researchers in a secure environment that is consistent with HMRC data security policy.  The aim of the HMRC Datalab is to produce high quality academic research that will benefit both the department and the wider research community, helping HMRC to make the most of the data it collects.  Datasets currently held in the Datalab include Corporation Tax, VAT, Stamp Duty Land Tax and Trade Statistics.

    2. Northern Ireland vital events data

    The Department of Finance and Personnel collect a wide variety of demographic administrative data for Northern Ireland.  Two of their main administrative datasets are the Birth Registrations and Death Records.  The Birth Registrations data contains information on a person's date and place of birth, sex, parental names and occupation.  The Death Records contains information on the data and place of death, name, sex, age, occupation and cause of death.

    For full information on these updates including how to apply to use the Datalab and how to access the Northern Ireland vital events data please visit www.adls.ac.uk.

    25 Aug 2011
  • Call for papers - Labour Force Survey/Annual Population Survey user meeting

    The next LFS/APS user meeting is being organised by ESDS Government for Tuesday 6 December 2011 at the Royal Statistical Society, London. The programme will contain a mixture of papers from data producers and researchers. This email is to invite offers of presentations based on analysis of the LFS or APS. Presenters will have 20 minutes for their talk followed by 10 minutes for questions.

    Details of previous user meetings can be found at http://www.ccsr.ac.uk/esds/events/types/user/

    Please send offers of a paper to Gillian.Meadows@manchester.ac.uk as soon as possible, but by 23 September 2011 at the latest.

    Call for papers - Crime surveys user meeting

    The next crime surveys user meeting is being organised by ESDS Government for Tuesday 13 December 2011 at the Royal Statistical Society, London. We are inviting offers of presentations based on analysis of the UK crime surveys, e.g. the British Crime Survey (BCS), Offending, Crime and Justice Survey (OCJS) or the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS). Presenters will have 20 minutes for their talk followed by 10 minutes for questions.

    Details of previous user meetings can be found at http://www.ccsr.ac.uk/esds/events/types/user/

    Please send offers of a paper to Gillian.Meadows@manchester.ac.uk as soon as possible, but by 23 September 2011 at the latest.

    25 Aug 2011
  • We have some funding remaining for students of our MSc in Statistics programme at the University of St Andrews. As such, further applications are encouraged from EU/UK candidates with a good undergraduate degree in Statistics/Mathematics with a strong statistical component.

    Applicants may qualify for a fees scholarship, with the possibility of a stipend for UK applicants.

    The research interests of the Statistics Division can be found here:
    http://creem2.st-andrews.ac.uk/ & http://www-maths.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/pg/statistics/index.shtml.

    Applications can be made here: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/admissions/pg/apply/

    Informal enquiries can be made to PGStats@mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk

    25 Aug 2011
  • The following new studies have been released:

    SN 6839  Workplace Employment Relations Survey - Annual Respondents Database Linked Datasets, 2002-2004: Secure Data Service Access

    SN 6840  Workplace Employment Relations Survey - Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings Linked Dataset, 2004: Secure Data Service Access

    SN 6823  ONS Opinions Survey, January 2009

    SN 6824  ONS Opinions Survey, April 2009

    SN 6844  Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey, 2010

    SN 6846  International Passenger Survey, 2011: Quarter One

    SN 6712  Workplace Employee Relations Survey: Cross-Section Surveys, 1998 and 2004 and Panel Survey, 1998-2004: Secure Data Service Access

    ***************************************************************************************

    The following new edition has been released:

    SN 6534  International Passenger Survey, 2010

    ***************************************************************************************

    The following new study has been released to the ESDS Nesstar Catalogue:

    SN 6820 - Young Life and Times Survey, 2010

    ***************************************************************************************

    During July 2011, the following datasets were updated at ESDS International:

    • IMF Direction of Trade Statistics,  July edition - monthly update 7 July 2011, data runs to 2011M02  
    • IMF Balance of Payments Statistics, July edition - monthly update 27 July 2011, data runs to 2010  
    • IMF International Financial Statistics, July edition – monthly update 27 July 2011, data runs to 2011M05  
    • IEA Energy Prices and Taxes, 2011 Q2 edition – quarterly update 22 July 2011, data runs to 2011Q2

    ·         OECD Main Economic Indicators, July edition – monthly update 20 July 2011, data runs to 2011M05

    ·         UNIDO INDSTAT 4 – annual update 18 July 2011, data runs to 2008

    ·         UNIDO INDSTAT2 – annual update 18 July 2011, data runs to 2008

    ·         UNIDO Industrial Demand Supply database – annual update 18 July 2011, data runs to 2008

    For the latest information on all ESDS International data portfolio updates, visit http://www.esds.ac.uk/international/news/dataupdate.asp

    ***************************************************************************************

    To order or to view further information on these data collections, or for access to the whole collection, please see the online catalogue web page:

    http://www.esds.ac.uk/search/searchStart.asp

     

    22 Aug 2011
  • New from Stata Press!

    Flexible Parametric Survival Analysis Using Stata: Beyond the Cox Model by Patrick Royston and Paul C. Lambert is now available from Stata Press.

    The Stata technical group offers the following comments about the book:

    Researchers wanting to fit regression models to survival data have long faced the difficult task of choosing between the Cox model and a parametric survival model such as Weibull. Cox models can be fit using Stata's *stcox* command, and parametric models are fit using *streg*, which offers five parametric forms in addition to Weibull. Although the Cox model makes minimal assumptions about the form of the baseline hazard function, prediction of hazards and other related functions for a given set of covariates is hindered by this lack of assumptions; the resulting estimated curves are not smooth and do not possess information about what occurs between the observed failure times. Parametric models offer nice, smooth predictions by assuming a functional form of the hazard, but often the assumed form is too structured for use with real data, especially if there exist significant changes in the shape of the hazard over time. This text is concerned with obtaining a compromise between Cox and parametric models that retains the desired features of both types of models. The book is aimed at researchers who are familiar with the basic concepts of survival analysis and with Stata's *stcox* and *streg* commands. As such, it is an excellent complement to /An Introduction to Survival Analysis Using Stata by Cleves et al. (2010).

    This book is written for Stata 12 but is fully compatible with Stata 11. Much of the text is dedicated to estimation with Royston-Parmar models using the *stpm2* command, which is maintained by the authors and available from the Statistical Software Components (SSC) archive. Royston-Parmar models are highly flexible alternatives to the exponential, Weibull, loglogistic, and lognormal models (fit using *streg*) that allow extension from proportional hazards to proportional odds and to scaled probit models. Additional flexibility is obtained by the use of restricted cubic spline functions as alternatives to the linear functions of log time used in standard models. The authors demonstrate fitting these models and graphing predicted hazards, cumulative hazards, and survival functions with real data from breast cancer and prostate cancer studies. After some introductory material on the motivation behind flexible parametric models and on working with survival data in Stata, the authors proceed by demonstrating that Cox models may instead be expressed as Poisson models by splitting the time scale at the observed failures. The Poisson-model expression allows extension by changing how the time scale is split and by introducing restricted cubic splines and fractional polynomials. Royston-Parmar models are then introduced, followed by material on model building and diagnostics for these models. Considerable attention is then given to time-dependent effects, how these may be modeled, and how to interpret the graphs of the predicted functions the models produce. This material is followed by a chapter on relative survival models such as those used for population-based cancer studies. This chapter is very thorough, relates well to the previous material, and is an ideal introduction for those new to the concepts of relative survival and excess mortality. The final chapter is devoted to advanced topics such as determining the number needed to treat (NNT), handling multiple-event data, and analyzing competing risks.

    Visit the Stata Press website to view the table of contents or to place an order.

    22 Aug 2011
  • *CONSULTATION ON SCOTTISH INDEX OF MULTIPLE DEPRIVATION (SIMD) - Next
    update and future outputs*

    Consultation on the timing of the next SIMD update and on a number of possible related outputs.

    Click here for further information.

     

    05 Jul 2011
  • BIS has announced a consultation on statistics that measure the progress of children from disadvantaged backgrounds to higher education. The consultation document is available on the BIS website here.

    The consultation is aimed to help maximise the usefulness and accessibility of the Official Statistics published on widening participation, and closes on 1 August 2011. The "Full-time young participation by socio-economic class (FYPSEC)" statistic has been published annually in an Official Statistics release produced by the Higher Education Analysis division of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The consultation relates to changes to this publication.

    05 Jul 2011
  • The ESRC recently announced their 'Future Research Leaders' scheme.  The scheme aims to:

    Enable outstanding early-career social scientists, in partnership with their host organisation, to acquire the skills set to become the future world leaders in their field.

    Fund excellent social science research projects.

    Research Themes
    The call states that proposals are welcomed in any topic that falls within ESRC's remit, but that this year the ESRC are particularly encouraging research proposals involving secondary analysis of existing datasets and the application of innovative research methods.

    Key Facts
    Applicants should have a maximum of four years' academic research experience following the completion of their PhD, or be of equivalent professional standing

    Grants will be for a maximum of 3 years

    Funding is restricted to an overall limit of £215,000 (100 per cent fEC) per grant (cost to ESRC of £172,000 at 80 per cent Fec)

    There will be a two-stage peer-review process

    Institutional support is required

    70 awards are expected to be made

    Deadlines
    First stage outlines should be submitted by on  15th September 2011

    Shortlisted candidates invitation to submit full proposal  1st February 2012

    Final decisions will be made June 2012

    Grants expected to commence October 2012

    Institutional Support
    Support for application from the University is essential, particularly in relation to the fact that the ESRC will only fund 60 per cent of the Future Research Leader grant holder's time.  As such it is important you contact your School Research Office or ERI as soon as possible to notify
    them of your intention to submit.

    Full call details available at:
    www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/15938/carousel-future-research-leaders.aspx

    04 Jul 2011
  • Statistical Project - £10,000

    A research assistant or advanced PhD student with highly developed quantitative skills is required together with a local supervisor, to undertake the construction of norms for a reading test. The work needs doing within the next 3 months. £10,000 is available for this work, divided between research assistant and supervisor as they agree. Two sets of data are available as csv files. These require a little cleaning and the computing of a few new variables. Standardised Scores, Percentile Ranks and Reading Ages are to be developed. A few minor analyses are also requested (variation by gender and region, split-half reliability). Test-retest reliability could be analysed if time permitted.

    Please express your interest by July 16th, sending to Professor Keith Topping, University of Dundee, k.j.topping@dundee.ac.uk, indicating name and status of research assistant and supervisor and (briefly) relevant expertise. Expressions of interest will be reviewed on July 17th, when a full specification will be available.

    29 Jun 2011
  • The Department of Education Northern Ireland collect a wide variety of education administrative data.  Two of their main administrative datasets are the Schools Census and the School Leavers Survey.

    The Schools Census contains data for over 300,000 pupils each year and includes pupil characteristics, FSM and SEN status and home language.  The School Leavers Survey contains data for over 20,000 pupils each year and includes details of the pupil destination, their qualifications, characteristics FSM and SEN status.

    For full information on both of these datasets (including application and access procedures) please go to: http://www.adls.ac.uk/data-providers/department-of-education/

    To search for existing publications that have used either the Schools Census or School Leavers Survey please go to: http://www.adls.ac.uk/publication-hub/

    23 Jun 2011
  • The new CASS (Courses in Applied Social Surveys) short course programme for 2011/12 is now out and includes courses on:       

    • Longitudinal Data Analysis
      Prof. Peter Smith, Dr. Ann Berrington and Dr. Marcel Vieira. 29 June - 1 July 2011. University of Southampton       
    • Questionnaire Design
      Dr. Pamela Campanelli. 3 - 4 October 2011. Cardiff University
    • Questionnaire Design
      Dr. Pamela Campanelli. 10 - 11 November 2011. Queens University Belfast        
    • Survey Data Analysis I: Introducing Descriptive & Inferential Statistics
      Dr. Gabriele B. Durrant and Olga Maslovskaya. 23 - 25 November 2011        
    • Structural Equation Modelling for Cross-Sectional Data
      Katy Sindall. University of Southampton. Autumn 2011 (TBC)       
    • Applied Multilevel Modelling
      Dr Ian Brunton-Smith and Dr. Gabriele B. Durrant. 25 – 27 January 2012.
      University of Southampton       
    • Survey Data Analysis II: Introduction to Linear Regression Modelling
      Dr Nikos Tzavidis and Dr Olga Maslovskaya. 29 February - 2 March 2012.
      University of Southampton       
    • Handling Nonresponse in Sampling Surveys
      Prof. Jelke Bethlehem and Dr. Fannie Cobben. 5 - 6 March 2012.
      University of Southampton       
    • Essentials of Survey Design and Implementation
      Dr. Pamela Campanelli. 18 - 20 April 2012. Medical Research Council, London 
    • Structural Equation Modelling for Cross-Sectional and Panel Data
      Prof. Patrick Sturgis. 25 - 27 April 2012 (TBC).University of Southampton    
    • Regression Methods
      Dr Denise Silva. 1 - 3 May 2012. University of Southampton       
    • Longitudinal Data Analysis: Population Average and Random Effects Models
      Prof. Peter Smith, Dr. Ann Berrington and Dr. Marcel Vieira. 27 - 29 June 2012. University of Southampton        
    • Analysis of Complex Sample Survey Data
      Dr. Brady T. West. 16 - 17 July 2012. University of Southampton       

    CASS is a programme of short courses covering topics in survey design, data collection and data analysis methods. Courses are aimed at academic social scientists and applied researchers in government, market research and the independent and voluntary sectors. Teaching is interactive and responsive to course participants' needs. All courses include practical sessions or computer workshops to enable participants to put the learned methods into practice.      

    Further information on all CASS courses and online registration can be found at www.southampton.ac.uk/cass

    If you have any further questions please contact us at cass@southampton.ac.uk        
    As places are limited and these courses are popular it is advisable to register as early as possible. Tel: +44 (0)23 8059 5376 Fax: +44 (0)23 8059 5763 Email: cass@southampton.ac.uk         
    Course Fees:        

    £30 per day for UK-registered students.
    £60 per day for staff from UK academic institutions, ESRC funded researchers and charities. £220 per day for all other participants.    

    Changes to the above information may occur. Please check the CASS website for updates : www.southampton.ac.uk/cass       

    23 Jun 2011
  • The Job Rasbash prize for Quantitative Social Science is awarded biennially for early career achievement in the field of quantitative social science. This new award has been established to commemorate the contributions to quantitative social science of Jon Rasbash, who was Professor of Computational Statistics and Director of the Centre for Multilevel Modelling at the University of Bristol. Jon was principally known for his development of multilevel methodology and its software implementation and for his research on studying social relationships within families. Through the development of the MLwiN software and teaching at numerous workshops worldwide, he played a major role in the adoption of multilevel modelling as a mainstream statistical technique.

    The £500 prize recognizes early career achievement in the development and/ or application of advanced quantitative methods in any social science discipline. Applicants should be UK residents and in the first 10 years of their research career (including periods of postgraduate study).

    The prize will be awarded on the basis of a research paper published in a peer-reviewed journal in 2010 or 2011. The applicant should be the sole or lead author of the paper.

    The deadline for submissions is 1 December 2011. Applicants should submit their paper to info-cmm@bristol.ac.uk, together with a short summary of the paper's contribution to the development or application of advanced quantitative methods in social research. In the case of co-authored papers, a statement of the applicant's contribution should also be submitted.

    Applications will be assessed by a panel including Professors Harvey Goldstein, Lindsay Paterson, Chris Skinner, Fiona Steele and Patrick Sturgis.

    The prize will be presented at the next Research Methods Festival, which will be held at the University of Oxford, 2-5 July 2012.

    Full details at: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cmm/research/rasbash-prize.html

    13 Jun 2011
  • Applications are invited for two Post Doctoral Research Fellows in the School of Law, University of Edinburgh.

    Post Doctoral Research Fellow:

    This one-year position is open to a dynamic, committed and enthusiastic scholar working in one or more of the areas of research strengths of the School and who will have completed their doctoral viva or submitted their thesis by 31 December 2011. The Fellowship is designed to give the successful candidate the opportunity to maximise the outputs from, and impact of, doctoral work and to further develop research and interpersonal skills. The Fellow will work closely with an established scholar in the field who will act both as mentor and a potential collaborator for future work.

    The successful candidate will present a coherent plan of work for the Fellowship period and beyond, including key deliverables such as the production of a monograph and/or peer-reviewed publications. 20% of the Fellowship will involve close working with the School of Law Research Office on research skills development. You may direct informal enquiries about the post to Professor Graeme Laurie(Graeme.Laurie@ed.ac.uk).

    As an enthusiastic, articulate and adaptable graduate educated to doctoral level in law, you will bring excellent research, writing and interpersonal skills and a detailed knowledge of EU law – primarily EU substantive/free movement and EU competition law – to the post. You will be principally responsible for a research scoping study, exploring the ways in which ‘proof’ is handled by the European Court of Justice, especially in the context of rationalising derogations from EU free movement law in contrast to the more empirical approach adopted under EU competition law.

    The key objective of this scoping research study is to explore whether there are discernible standards and patterns in the Court’s treatment of evidence or proof in these fields, contributing in turn to a bigger research project to be developed from these themes. You may direct informal enquiries about the post to Professor Niamh Nic Shuibhne(niamh.nicshuibhne@ed.ac.uk).

    How to apply:

    Applications for both positions are invited for the closing date of 30 June 2011(5pm).

    These positions are full time and are available from 1 September 2011 for twelve months.

    Appointments will be made on the UE07 scale (£29,853-£35,646).

    We encourage all applicants to apply online at http://www.jobs.ed.ac.uk/. You will receive email confirmation of safe receipt of your application.

    09 Jun 2011
  • Monday 6th June marks the launch of the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2008/09 User Guide.  The User Guide, prepared by Susan McVie and Sarah MacQueen on behalf of the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, is intended as a practical guide for researchers or others who wish to know more about or use data from the new series of Scottish Crime and Justice Surveys.  The guide includes information on how and where to access the data and includes detailed syntax for analysis using SPSS. The guide may be accessed online here.

    03 Jun 2011
  • Opportunities for four placement fellowships in the Welsh Government are available in the following projects:

    • Improving Research Access to Potentially Disclosive Data for Wales
      - Data Access Fellowship (WAG1)
    • Maximising the Use of Existing Administrative Data Sets for Wales through Data Linking
      - Data-linking Fellowship (WAG2)
    • Maximising the Use of Existing Administrative and Survey Data Sets for Wales
      - (WAG3)
    • Maximising the Use of Existing Administrative Data Sets for Wales through Computer Modelling and Simulation
      - Computer Modelling and Simulation Fellowship (WAG4)

    See attachments for details of each.

    26 May 2011
  • University of Glasgow - School of Medicine
    College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences

    Trainee Biostatistician
    Robertson Centre for Biostatistics / Glasgow Clinical Trials Unit
    Ref: M00175
    Salary: £25,854 - £29,099 per annum

    The Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, part of the registered Glasgow Clinical Trials Unit, is recognised internationally for the design, conduct and analysis of clinical trials and other medical research projects.

    You will have excellent qualifications in Statistics, be able to conduct routine statistical analyses and write reports on these.  You will have good programming experience, statistical programming or otherwise.  You will work on clinical trial and/or epidemiological data and receive training in more advanced biostatistical methods, programming and in applied aspects of clinical trials and epidemiology.

    This post has funding for 2 years in the first instance.

    Apply online at http://www.glasgow.ac.uk/jobs

    Closing date: 3rd June 2011.

    23 May 2011
  • School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Glasgow.

    Applications are invited for 4 fully funded MSc places in Statistics in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Glasgow. The courses start in September 2011, and successful candidates can study on any one of our five taught Master’s degrees, namely:

    • MRes in Advanced Statistics
    • MSc in Biostatistics
    • MSc in Environmental Statistics
    • MSc in Social Statistics
    • MSc in Statistics

    The first of these degrees is aimed at students with an honours degree (e.g. in Mathematics) which has a substantial Statistics component. The remaining four can be attended by graduates in any discipline who have some mathematical background. Further details of these courses are available from our website at

    http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/mathematicsstatistics/postgraduate/


    In addition, suitably qualified candidates could enrol on the MSc in Statistics by research if an appropriate project and supervisor can be found.

    The Statistics group at the University of Glasgow is internationally renowned for its research excellence, and has a vibrant community of around 30 postgraduate students. Our research strengths include statistical methodology, biostatistics and environmental statistics, and further details can be found at:

    http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/mathematicsstatistics/research/

    These fully funded places cover all University fees (at the UK/EU rate), as well as a stipend at the EPSRC rate, which last year was £13,590.

    Informal enquires should be directed to Professor John McColl

    Formal applications should be made on-line at:

    http://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/howtoapplyforataughtdegree/

    Your application should include a C.V. as well as details of two academic referees. There is no formal deadline for applications for these degree programmes, but we expect to make decisions on the funded places at the beginning of June 2011.

    23 May 2011
  • starting salary: £33,780 - £37,534

    closing date: 27th May 2011
    interview date: 7th June 2011
    Post ref: BioSS/2/11

    BioSS have an opening for an experienced statistician with excellent technical and interpersonal skills to work in BioSS's plant science application area, based at the James Hutton Institute (JHI) in Dundee.  JHI works at the forefront of modern technology, generating a challenging range of quantitative problems motivated by research on crop plants and their interactions with the environment.  Th epostholder will have the opportunity to develop an area of personal research related to the analysis of high dimensional data arising from 'omics and next generation sequencing.

    Applicants should be:

    • enthusiatic about the potential of modern statistical methods to contribute to the advancement of scientific thinking
    • able to demonstrate experience of collaboration with biological scientists and innovation on the development and application of modern statistical methods, substantiated by a record of scientific publications

    Further information on the post, inclusing how to apply is available on the BioSS website.

    Potential applicants may contact Dr Frank Wright (f.wright@bioss.ac.uk, 01382 562731), in confidence to discuss the post.

    Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS) has an international reputation for methodological development in statistics, mathematical modelling and bioinformatics.  BioSS offers a stimulating working environment, with over 30 staff at 4 different locations, working on applications in plant science, animal health and welfare, ecology and end environmental science, and nutrition and human health.  BioSS is formally part of The James Hutton Institute (JHI), a Scottish charity (No. SC041796) and an equal opportunities employer.

    23 May 2011
  • The Charity Commission are responsible for the registration and regulation of applraximately 180,000 cahrities in England and Wales and for maintaining a public Register of Charities.  The Register contains comprehensive infomration about each charity including purpose, main client group, areas of operation, income and expenditire, employee and volunteer numbers.

    Full details about the Charity Commission Register including information on how to make an application to access the data is available from the ADLS website.

    23 May 2011
  • The Welsh Assembly Government is responsible for the collection of the Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC) and Pupil Attainment data.  The data contain approximately half a million records for each academic year and include variables on pupil characteristics including date of birth, gender, home postcode, special education need status, free school meal status and attainment scores across the different key stages.

    Full information on this dataset, including imformation on application and access procedures is now available from the ADLS website.

    23 May 2011
  • New Software Relase - MLwiN 2.23

    For details of bug fixes:  http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cmm/software/mlwin/bugs/fixes.html

    To upgrade to the latest version:
    http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cmm/software/mlwin/download/upgrades.html

    New Realcom user forum

    A Realcom section has been created within the MLwiN user forum:

    http://www.cmm.bristol.ac.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=4&sid=ae7f518c7b36cf7b8f5ecbf9aba496ed

    You can view this forum as a guest or log in to post or answer questions about Realcom or Realcom-Impute

     

    23 May 2011
  • The data management environment is evolving.  To promote openness, accountability and efficiency in research, funders are placing a higher priority on sharing data - and increasingly requiring reserchers to have solid data management plans as part of thier funding applications.

    To support researchers in producing high quality research data for long-term use, the UK Data Archive has revised and expanded its popular and highly ciited Managing and Sharing Data: best practice for researchers, first published in 2009.

    The new third editions covers:

    • why and how to share research data
    • data management planning and costing
    • documenting data
    • formatting data
    • storing data
    • ethics and consent issues
    • data copyright
    • data management strategies for large investments

    Further details

    23 May 2011
  • The following new studies have been released:

    SN 6748  Benefits and Costs of Knowledge and Technology Transfer: a Panel Data Analysis, 1985-2007

    SN 6760  National Child Development Study: Sweeps 1-6, 1958-2000, Self-Reported Measures

    SN 6757  European Values Study: Wave 4, Great Britain, 2009-2010

    SN 6651  British Business and Public Policy: the Informational and Structural Determinants of Political Influence, 2007-2009

    SN 6756  Smart Enforcement in Environmental Legal Systems: A Socio-Legal Analysis of Regulatory Satellite Monitoring in Australia, 2009-2010

    SN 6694  Offshoring and Outsourcing Innovation? The New Challenge for Multinationals, 2007-2010

    SN 6753  Scottish Survey of Adult Literacies, 2009

    For the latest information on all ESDS International data portfolio updates, visit http://www.esds.ac.uk/international/news/dataupdate.asp

    To order or to view further information on these data collections, or for access to the whole collection, please see the online catalogue web page:

    http://www.esds.ac.uk/search/searchStart.asp

    09 May 2011
  • The Economic and Social Data Service government data team regularly produce teaching datasets for teaching use (see http://www.esds.ac.uk/government/resources/teachingdatasets.asp ). The team are currently designing these two new datasets with a view to making them available later in the year.We'd like to draw on your expertise to make sure these end up as useful as possible.

    The two files are:

    1. A licence-free dataset based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS) Because licence restrictions are removed we anticipate that this file will be somewhat less detailed than other LFS teaching datasets. However, it should be easier to access and to share with students. We anticipate that this will be an individual level file.

    2. A licenced dataset based to fit with our theme of housing and the local environment;
    We anticipate that this will be based on the English Housing Survey (EHS, formerly the Survey of English Housing and English House Condition Survey). We anticipate that this will be will be a household file to include variables such as tenure, type of accommodation, number of residents, IMD quintiles, rural/urban.

    Both of these datasets will be cut down versions of the files currently available through the Economic and Social Data Service under End User Licence. They will have fewer variables and simplified features to make them more usable for a new user and will be available in SPSS, Stata and Nesstar formats.We generally seek to include a range of general socio-economic classifying variables, other topic general indicators and one or two topics in more detail. We will also seek to include scalar as well as continuous variables. A short user guide will be produced with the data.

    In each case we would like to know what would be of most use to potential users;

    * What topics would you like covered in detail?
    * Are there particular variables which should be included?
    * What methods would you need to be able to demonstrate using the files?

    Comments on the any other aspect of the data sets are, of course, welcomed too.

    It would help in our planning if you were able to make comments by email to jo.wathan@manchester.ac.uk with the subject header 'teaching data' by the 12th May.

    09 May 2011
  • The following new studies have been released:-

    SN 6755  Annual Population Survey, October 2009 - September 2010: Special Licence Access
    SN 6752  National Child Development Study: Understanding Individual Behaviour, 2010
    SN 6754  Annual Population Survey, October 2009 - September 2010
    SN 6655  Living Costs and Food Survey, 2009
    SN 6733  Citizenship Survey, 2009-2010

    For the latest information on all ESDS International data portfolio updates, visit http://www.esds.ac.uk/international/news/dataupdate.asp

    To order or to view further information on these data collections, or for access to the whole collection, please see the online catalogue web page:
    http://www.esds.ac.uk/search/searchStart.asp

     

     

     

    26 Apr 2011
  • The ADLS has produced two documents to help researchers and other interested parties understand two important pieces of legislation relating to the use of personal data for research purposes. These are:

    1. Section 33 of the Data Protection Act - This provides an exception to those engaged in historical or other research, and in the preparation of certain statistics, to some of the eight data protection principles.  The document provides information on this section of the Data Protection Act, including the conditions when personal data gathered for non -research purposes can be used for research purposes.
    2. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 - The Act permits requests from any person for information from a 'public authority' and entitles individuals to a general right of access to recorded information, subject to certain exemptions.  This document provides an overview of the Act (including making requests) and the exemption for personal information.

    The documents are available to download from the ADLS website.

    Should you need any further questions about this information then please do not hesitate to contact Darren Lightfoot at adls@st-andrews.ac.uk or telephone 01334 463901.

    08 Apr 2011
  • Scotland's Chief Statistician has published Racist Incidents Recorded by the Police in Scotland, 2009-10. This publication presents the latest figures on racist incidents recorded by Scottish Police Forces.

    The main findings are:

    • There were 4,952 racist incidents recorded in 2009-10, compared to the 5,143 incidents recorded in 2008-09. This equates to a four per cent decrease on 2008-09
    • The number of crimes decreased in 2009-10 (from 6,615 crimes in 2008-09 to 5,819 crimes in 2009-10), which equates to a decrease of twelve per cent
    • In 2009-10, around 98 per cent of incidents recorded resulted in one or more crimes being recorded
    • The most frequently recorded crime in 2009-10 was racially aggravated conduct, accounting for 65 per cent of all crimes recorded as part of racist incidents
    • In 2009-10, around 48 per cent of victims, for whom ethnic origin was known, were of Asian origin (that is, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese or other Asian), with the majority being Pakistani
    • For those incidents in 2009-10, where perpetrator information was available, approximately 96 per cent of perpetrators, for whom ethnic origin was known, were of white origin

    Statistical data in this Bulletin is reported on a financial year basis. Statistics from April 2004 to March 2010 are available in the Bulletin, with statistics for financial year 2003-04 available on request.

    In response to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, the then Scottish Executive produced an action plan to progress the recommendations set out in the MacPherson report, which included the setting up of a statistical collection covering racist incidents.

    The definition of a racist incident, as given by Sir William MacPherson in his Report on the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, is:

    "A racist incident is any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person."

    In the context of the data for this bulletin, the above definition was used.

    The statistics reported here are based on a simple count of the number of racist incidents recorded by the police and the crimes, victims and perpetrators arising from these incidents. Only returns from the eight Scottish police forces are included in this bulletin.

    In one incident, one or more victims may be involved, and one or more perpetrators. There may be no criminal element, or several crimes or offences may occur.

    The detailed classification of crimes and offences used by the Scottish Government to collect criminal statistics contains about 360 codes.

    In Scotland, assault is a common law offence. In order to distinguish between serious and minor assaults, police forces use a common definition of what constitutes a serious assault.

    'Minor assault', as defined by the Scottish Government, is any assault which does not fall into the following definition of Serious Assault:

    'An assault in which the victim sustained an injury resulting in detention in hospital as an in-patient or any of the following injuries whether or not detained in hospital: fractures, severe concussion, internal injuries, loss of consciousness, lacerations requiring sutures which may lead to impairment or disfigurement, or any other injury which may lead to impairment or disfigurement.

    Download the full bulletin

    08 Apr 2011
  • The 2010 release of the Experian demographic data is now available from the CDU website.

    The update includes three of Experian's most popular datasets:

    • Mosaic Public Sector demographic profiles
    • Median household income estimates 
    • Population projections by gender and 5-year age bands, for year of release plus 5 and 10-year future projections.

    Each of these datasets is available free for academic use across the UK for lower layer super output areas in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the corresponding data zones in Scotland.

    Mosaic Public Sector is the UK’s only classification that is designed specifically for use by the public sector and focuses on the needs of citizens. It provides a detailed and accurate understanding of each citizen’s location, their demographics, lifestyles and behaviours.

    Sixty two per cent of the information used to build Mosaic Public Sector is sourced from a combination of data that includes Experian’s UK Consumer Dynamics Database, which provides consumer demographic information for the UK’s 47 million adults and 24 million households. This database is built from an unrivalled variety of privacy-compliant public and Experian proprietary data and statistical models. These include the edited Electoral Roll, Council Tax property valuations, house sale prices, self reported lifestyle surveys and other compiled consumer data.

     

    The remaining 38 per cent of the data are sourced from Census current year estimates that Experian has produced by utilising its wealth of data assets to track change in key 2001 Census variables. These estimates provide an accurate and up-to-date measure of the key demographic characteristics of local areas and address changes that have taken place since the 2001 Census.

    Please direct any questions about the ESRC Experian Data or other CDU services to the CDU Helpdesk via the CDU Support & Contact Page.

    08 Apr 2011
  • NCRM bursaries of up to £1,000 per person are available to enable staff in the UK social science community engaged in research, teaching research methods or supervising research to update their skills in research methods.

    Read further and apply

    07 Apr 2011
  • NCRM’s call for Networks for Methodological Innovation (NMI) projects will be issued on 9 May 2011. The aim of this scheme is to enable networks of researchers to meet in order to stimulate debate and develop ideas in relation to methodological innovation. NCRM normally funds two projects per year, with a maximum budget of £24,000 per project. The closing date for applications will be 28 June 2011. Further information and the application form will be available from the National Centre for Research Methods website from 9 May 2011. 

    Read further

    07 Apr 2011
  • The Department of Sociology invites applications for fully-funded Masters and PhD studentships in quantitative sociology or survey methodology. Programmes are either for four years, including a one-year Masters, or three years, for applicants who already have research methods training at postgraduate level.
                                                               
    Students can choose from several Masters degrees, leading on to a PhD based in the Department of Sociology (Quantitative Sociology) or ISER (Survey Methodology). Masters degrees are available as standalone one-year degrees, but without ESRC funding.                                                   
    ISER: http://www.iser.essex.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees       

    Sociology: http://www.essex.ac.uk/sociology/prospective/Research_Degrees/ 
          
    Masters: http://www.essex.ac.uk/sociology/prospective/PG_Programmes/
                  
    For more information about our ESRC studentships, eligibility and available funding, please see: www.essex.ac.uk/dtc.
                                                   
    You will need a formal offer of a postgraduate place at Essex before you can be considered. You can apply online for postgraduate study at Essex at: www.essex.ac.uk/pgapply and then apply for these studentships.
                                         
    You should submit your application for postgraduate study by 28 April 2011 at the very latest, to ensure you meet our subsequent ESRC funding application deadline of 13 May 2011.                                   

    05 Apr 2011
  • This is an invitation to academics and researchers to submit proposals for methodological experiments to be incorporated on the "Understanding Society" Innovation Panel from wave 5 onwards.

    Experiments could relate to the design of survey instruments (e.g. question wording, scale format, item order, etc) or to survey design features (e.g. procedures intended to reduce non-response or to improve fieldwork efficiency). 

    Data collection for wave 5, which will have a mixed mode design (web, telephone and face-to-face), will take place in early spring 2012. The sample size is approximately 1,400 households.

    The deadline for receipt of proposals is 2 June 2011.

    Data collection costs will not be charged to successful proposers. Proposers will be expected to collaborate in the detailed development of their study, which may include CAI script testing and/or checking of field documents. They are also expected to provide a summary report of
    main findings, for inclusion in a working paper reporting on the wave 5 experimentation. Proposers are welcome to publish their own research based on the resultant data; the data will be made available to proposers as soon as possible and in advance of general release via the
    UK Data Archive.

    The full call for proposals, including information about the principles to which proposals must adhere, the criteria by which proposals will be judged, and the application process, can be downloaded from the Understanding Society website.

    05 Apr 2011
  • Realcom no longer support original mixed-responses module of Realcom as the functionality is included in Realcom-Impute.  Because of this the original REalcom installer has been split into realcom-factor and realcom-measerr.  Further details

    Realcom-Impute: A bug that can affect the covariance estimates for discrete responses has been fixed - an updated version fo the software is now available from Realcom Imputation.

    29 Mar 2011
  • A questionnaire consultation for the next round of the Scottish Health Survey (2012-2015) has now been launched. 

    The following link provides details of how to participate. 

    http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Health/scottish-health-survey/ScotHealthSurveyNewsflash

    The closing date is Friday 15th April 2011.

    29 Mar 2011
  • ONS are undertaking a consultation on the future of the GHS/GLF. This is a vitally important consultation as the survey series will be discontinued if users do not indicate an overriding need for the survey.  The consultation is open for 12 weeks until the 6th May and can be accessed at:

    http://www.ons.gov.uk/about/consultations/open-consultations/the-future-of-the-glf-survey/

    Please note, that this is a specific consultation on the future of the GHS/GLF.  Comments made in the more general consultation from December last year will be rolled forwards and do not need to be made again.

    A further opportunity to make your voice heard on the future of the survey will be the at the GHS/GLF user meeting on Wednesday 23 March 2011 at the Royal Statistical Society, London. To view the programme for the meeting and book a place please go to:

    www.ccsr.ac.uk/esds/events/2011-03-23/

    Book now to avoid disappointment.

    10 Mar 2011
  • Applications are invited from students wishing to do PhD research on statistical methods for the social sciences (including economics, linguistics, politics, psychology, sociology, social policy).  Successful applicants will join the new ESRC Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) at Warwick, and will be based in the Department of Statistics.

    These studentships are available to UK and EU students, normally for 3.5 years. Subject to ESRC rules on residence, such studentships can pay fees and a tax-free stipend of £16,590 per annum.

    ESRC-funded students will take part in the Academy for PhD Training in Statistics  http://www.apts.ac.uk  in their first year, and during their first two years will also
    participate in relevant parts of the DTC's core training programme in research methods for social science.

    For further details of these and other PhD funding opportunities in Statistics at Warwick, including how to apply, please see  http://go.warwick.ac.uk/stats/postgrad/research

    For some indicative research topics, see http://go.warwick.ac.uk/stats/postgrad/research/ESRC-projects-2011

    Applications should be made by *15 April 2011* to be guaranteed consideration in this year's allocation of funds.

    10 Mar 2011
  • The University of Edinburgh Business school are advertising a post for a Lecturer in Management Science.

     

    Details concerning the job can be found at http://www.jobs.ed.ac.uk.  Vacancy number 3014172

    Closing date for applications 31 March

    10 Mar 2011
  • UCAS dataset information
    The Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is responsible for managing applications to most full time undergraduate degree programmes and some post graduate degree programmes at universities and colleges in the UK.

    The dataset includes information on applicant characteristics, acceptances, refusals,  institutions and courses.

    Full information on the UCAS dataset (including access procedures) is now available on the ADLS site at www.adls.ac.uk/data-providers/ucas/.

    GROS dataset information
    The General Register Office for Scotland are responsible for the registration of births, deaths, marriages, divorces and adoptions in Scotland.  The Birth registrations dataset includes information on the date, time and place of birth, child's name and sex, parental details and place of residence.  The Death records dataset includes name and address of the deceased, age, cause of death and employment status.

    Full information on both of these datasets (including access procedures) is now available on the ADLS site at www.adls.ac.uk/data-providers/general-register-office-for-scotland/.

    Improved Publication Search
    Did you know that you can search for research publications that have used
    administrative data on the ADLS site?  This facility has now been improved
    and key features include:

    1. Comprehensive archive from 2000 onwards of administrative data publications for all datasets held on the ADLS website.
    2. An option to search for the most recent administrative data publications by data holding organisation.
    3. Each search result now contains an abstract and link to the publication. 
    4. Embedded Google Scholar and external web links included as additional resources in search results.

    You can start using this search facility by going to www.adls.ac.uk/publication-hub/.

    Our aim is to make this database as comprehensive a resource as possible.
    Therefore if you are aware of any further publications that should be included then please get in touch and I will add these in.

    Should you need any further information on the ADLS or these updates contact Darren Lightfoot.

    10 Mar 2011
  • The University of Edinburgh is currently seeking applicants for the MSc in Social Research for September 2011.

    Thsi postgraduate degree is ideal for combining a postgraduate researcg methods training with work-based social research, also on a part tie basis.  Candidiates can specialiize in quantitative methods.

    This degree can be taken as the "1" part of  "1 + 3 ESRC funding" via the newly formed Scottish Doctoral Training Centre.

    Further details.

    For further information contact Alison Koslowski

    10 Mar 2011
  • 11 four-year PhD Scholarship are available, to start October 2011.  These pay £17000 per annum for four years + fees (EU rate) + generous allowance for research, training and conference expenses.

    UCL SECReT is the £17m international centre for PhD training in multidisciplinary security and crime science at University College London, the first centre of its kind in Europe. There is a need for students with mathematical, statistical and computational skills, for example in topics related to the evaluation of evidence.  Students from maths, statistics and comp sci backgrounds should have an interest in applications to some area of security or crime science, which spans a broad range of scientific disciplines.  I would be interested to hear from students with an interest in a PhD project related to statistical interpretation of DNA profile evidence.

    An OPEN EVENING is scheduled at UCL on 8th March 2011 and the next application deadline is 11th April 2011. For details and how to apply visit: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/secret

    08 Mar 2011
  •  

    The 2011 3-day inter-disciplinary Conference will gather together an international group of researchers who have expertise in the linkage of administrative or routine data for health research or health care improvement. Seminars will cover the value of record linkage in health research, the use of routinely collected data in clinical trials, governance of health related research and methodological challenges of record linkage.

    Abstracts for the conference must be submitted by the 1st April 2011.

    For full details including how to register for both of these events please visit the ADLS website.

    08 Mar 2011
  • The Quantitative Methods cluster of the new Doctoral Training Centre led by the Institute of Education has up to 6 ESRC studentships available for entry in October 2011.

    The cluster is a collaboration between the Department of Quantitative Social Science and the Centre for Longitudinal Studies at the Institute of Education, and the Department of Medical Statistics at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

    We are seeking applicants for postgraduate training in the application of quantitative methods to substantive issues in the social sciences. A wide range of empirical applications would be considered, including those in the areas of health, education, labour markets, living standards, and social policy. We are interested in people who wish to do research in areas such as these where this research is best addressed through quantitative approaches. We are also interested in people who wish to develop new methods for application within the social sciences.

    Further information

    08 Mar 2011
  • The Centre for Multilevel modelling announce the publication or their new website:

    http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cmm/

    MLwiN's new address is

    http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cmm/software/mlwin/

    If you visit the old web site you will be redirected automatically to the new one. Everything that was on the old site is now here, mostly within the same structure, it is just the address that has changed -  and we have a new simplified appearance.

    We apologise for any inconvenience you may have in changing your bookmarks.

    If there is anything you cannot find please let us know - email us at:
    hilary.browne@bristol.ac.uk or info-cmm@bristol.ac.uk.

    08 Mar 2011
  • The South West Doctoral Training Centre, UNiversity of Bristol are pleased to invite applications for 4 ESRC '+3' studentships on the South West Doctoral Training Centre's Advanced Quantitative Methods in Social Science & Health (AQM) pathway. The AQM pathway is based at the University of Bristol and these studentships will run from October 2011.

    The AQM pathway involves PhD supervision and core training on the application of advanced quantitative methods in the social and health sciences. It is run by leading academics from the University of Bristol's Centre for Multilevel Modelling, Centre for Market & Public Organisation, the School of Geographic Sciences, and the School of Social & Community Medicine.

    AQM is for social scientists who wish to develop their quantitative research skills in order to address important substantive social science questions, and in particular those questions involving secondary data analysis. AQM is equally for researchers who wish to specialise in the development of quantitative methods to address important but more generic social science questions, rather than specific applications to a substantive topic.

    Applications are welcome from graduates in quantitative social science disciplines and more technical quantitative disciplines like statistics andeconometrics. Applicants must have completed a Master's degree satisfying the ESRC Postgraduate Training & Development Guidelines by 30 September 2011.

    The deadline for applications is 11 April 2011.

    AQM is a priority area and it is expected that successful applicants will be eligible for an additional AQM stipend of £3,000. Thus the total annual maintenance stipend for 2011/12 will be in excess of £16,590.

    For more details about AQM studentships and the applications procedure, visit
    the website .

    08 Mar 2011
  • Dear multilevel modellers

    We have three news items -

    1) The CMM team have released a new on-line course module  - Module 8: "Multilevel Modelling in Practice: Research Questions, Data Preparation and Analysis Lesson"

    In this module we consider the whole process of conducting a research project using multilevel modelling, taking as an example a study of ethnic differences in educational achievement and progress.

    You will need to log on or register onto our course to view the full module. Further details can be found here:
    http://www.cmm.bristol.ac.uk/learning-training/course-topics.shtml#m08

    2) Professor Fiona Steele, Dr George Leckie and Dr Mark McCann will be giving a workshop in Belfast on 13-14 April 2011 - "Introduction to Multilevel Modelling
    in STATA"  Further details:http://www.ncrm.ac.uk/TandE/events2011/0413/index.php

    3) Realcom Impute has been updated. A bug has been fixed in realcom-impute and realcom mixed response, that could have given incorrect values for some level 2 random effects associated with level 1 responses when level 1 categorical responses were present. Further details and to download Realcom Impute, go to:
    http://www.cmm.bristol.ac.uk/research/Realcom/imputation.shtml

    01 Mar 2011
  • ESRC’s Methods and Infrastructure Committee (MIC) - applications in relation to the NCRM’s third phase call for Nodes

    A total of 37 proposals were received by the closing date of 13 July 2010.

    The Commissioning Panel met on the 8 November 2010 to consider the applications, and made funding recommendations to the Methods and Infrastructure Committee.  At its meeting in on 3 December, the MIC endorsed the recommendations of the Commissioning Panel, subject to the available budget.  Following the announcement of the Research Council’s funding allocation; it agreed that only thetop six applications could be awarded for funding, as follows:

    Reference Number
    Principal Applicant Name & Institution
    Title of Proposal
    RES-576-25-0027
    Professor C Jewitt, Institute of Education

    Multimodal Methodologies for Researching Digital Data and Environments
    RES-576-25-0042
    Mr M Brewer, Institute for Fiscal Studies

    Programme Evaluation for Policy Analysis (PEPA)
    RES-576-25-0032

    Professor F Steele, University of Bristol
    LEMMA 3: Longitudinal Effects, Multilevel Modelling and Applications
    RES-576-25-0039
    Professor M Birkin, University of Leeds

    TALISMAN: Geospatial Data Analysis and Simulation
    RES-576-25-0053
    Professor A Phoenix, Institute of Education

    Habitual practices in everyday lives: Understanding constructed meanings by mixing methods
    RES-576-25-0037
    Professor E Grundy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

    Pathways: Biosocial Influences on Health

    The comments the ESRC receives from referees on applications are a very important and essential stage of the peer review system, and therefore the Council values the comments they provide very highly. The Council is therefore indebted to all those who assist in its decision making.

    All applicants have been informed of the Committee’s decision. We will shortly announce the successful applications on the ESRC’s website.

    01 Mar 2011
  • The main objective of the 2011 Census is to provide high quality population statistics as required by a wide range of users including policy makers, service providers, academics, commercial enterprises and the general public. To achieve this, the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) consults widely with users to make sure our census output products are relevant and practical for them to use. Further background on this programme of consultation can be found on the GROS website.

    This current phase of consultation builds on the one we ran in spring 2010. In particular, it provides users with the following for review and comment

    • a list of pre-defined tables where there have been significant revisions since 2001 in the underlying census questions, coding or definitions (and hence problems in comparing 2011 outputs with 2001); and
    • draft outlines of some proposed new pre-defined tables based on suggestions made by users in the spring 2010 consultation for additional cross-tabulations (mainly those which relate to the questions being asked for the first time in 2011).


    Getting Involved

    To take part in this consultation please visit the GROS website  where all the detailed consultation documentation and guidance on how to participate can be found.

    The consultation is open to everyone. The closing date for providing submissions is Thursday, 31st March 2011.

    Should you have any queries regarding Scotland's outputs consultation or providing submissions,please email:
    Census.Consultation@gro-scotland.gsi.gov.uk

    17 Feb 2011
  • University of Glasgow   

      School of Mathematics & Statistics      
          
        CHAIR OF STATISTICS      
          
    REF: 00025-7   

                                                                    
    The University of Glasgow, established in 1451, is a member of the  UK's Russell Group of leading universities. The University is committed to enhancing its position as one of the world's great, broad-based, research-intensive universities. Central to our strategic development plan, 'Glasgow 2020: A Global Vision', the University has created 23 senior positions in the newly established Colleges of Science & Engineering, Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, and Arts. Some of these positions will cross traditional subject boundaries to lead cross-College themes including energy, biomedical engineering, health & wellbeing and medical humanities.      
          
    The Chair of Statistics, established in 1966, will become vacant  on the retirement of Professor Michael Titterington in the summer of 2011.  The successful applicant will be an established scholar with an outstanding international reputation, have a profile of world-leading research in Statistical Methodology, have proven excellence in attracting competitive research funding, and the ability to innovate and lead change across all aspects of research and learning.      
          
    Informal enquiries may be directed to the Head of School     
    Professor Nicholas Hill (0141 330 5176, hos@maths-stats.gla.ac.uk)       
    or
    to the Head of Statistics
    Professor John McColl (0141 330 4749, John.McColl@glasgow.ac.uk).

    Information about the Statistics group and its research is available from the School website at http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/mathematicsstatistics/      
          
    Apply online at http://www.glasgow.ac.uk/jobs.      
    If you are unable to apply online, contact us on 0141 330 3898 for  an application pack, quoting reference 00025-7.       
          
    Closing date: 12th April 2011.     

    17 Feb 2011
  • Lancaster, Liverpool and Manchester Universities have been jointly awarded an ESRC Doctoral Training Centre (NWDTC) through which 63 studentships are available, for students beginning their Doctoral training in October 2011. Up to four of these studentships are available at Lancaster for PhD projects in Quantitative Methods, and are open to candidates of any nationality. Lancaster has exceptional strength in quantitative methods for the social sciences, which is primarily based in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics or in the School of Health and Medicine.

    In the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, the Applied Statistics group led by Prof. Brian Francis has a long-established reputation as one of the strongest research groups in Social Statistics, with a strong focus quantitative criminology, quantitative sociology, social research methods and social medicine. Current research areas include longitudinal latent variable techniques, latent transition analysis, IRT models, statistical modelling of longitudinal categorical data, statistical linguistics and financial statistics.

    Joint supervision with a second supervisor in the relevant social science discipline is common. In the School of Health and Medicine, the CHICAS group led by Prof Peter Diggle has an international reputation in the development and application of spatial and longitudinal statistical methods and their substantive application in the health sciences, with a particular focus on social, environmental and tropical disease epidemiology. PhD projects are often linked to collaborative partners in the UK and internationally: current examples include the National Health Service and the Health Protection Agency (UK), the World Health Organisation (Switzerland), the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (Burkina Faso), Johns Hopkins, Columbia and Yale Universities (USA) and Fiocruz Research Foundation (Brazil).

    Candidates for these studentships should provide a full CV together with a covering letter explaining their motivation for undertaking PhD studies and an indication of their specific interests within the general area of statistical methods relevant to the social sciences and/or in applications to particular areas of the social sciences. Applications involving the secondary analysis of survey and administrative datasets are particularly welcome.

    Please send applications to Angela Mercer, Department of Maths and Statistics, Fylde College, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YF, UK (A.Mercer-at-Lancaster.ac.uk).

    Informal inquiries about these studentships are encouraged by e-mail to either Brian Francis (b.Francis-at-Lancaster.ac.uk) or Peter Diggle (p.Diggle-at-lancaster.ac.uk). 

    Short-listed candidates will be expected to refine their research proposals in consultation with their potential supervisors, with a view to making a full application to the university by 25 March 2011 Each studentship will include fees, an annual stipend of £16,590 and a travel/ research training support fund of approximately £1000.

    Successful candidates will normally receive funding for either three or four years. Four-year awards will be structured as 1+3 years, consisting of a full-time taught MSc in the first year followed by three years of PhD study. In all cases continuation of the award beyond the first year will be subject to satisfactory academic progress.

    10 Feb 2011
  • School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Glasgow

    Spatiotemporal Modelling of Hydrological Catchments

    The stipend will track the EPSRC rates and home/EU fees (academic year 2010-11 minimum stipend £13,590)

    This is an exciting fully funded opportunity in Environmental Statistics for someone with a 1st or 2:1 degree in Statistics or another highly quantitative subject (e.g. Mathematics).

    This project will develop spatiotemporal hierarchical models for river water quality data incorporating different levels of spatial correlation within and between catchments and contributory catchment information.

    The successful student will be supervised by Dr Claire Miller (nee Ferguson) and Professor Marian Scott in Statistics at the University of Glasgow. Both supervisors have strong connections with the EA and SEPA and this project is motivated by collaborations with both agencies.

    For further information please contact Dr Claire Miller (nee Ferguson) Claire.Ferguson@glasgow.ac.uk or Prof. Marian Scott Marian.Scott@glasgow.ac.uk).

    10 Feb 2011
  • Strathclyde University has a job opportunity for a post doc working in risk and reliability.

    Research Associate
    Theory and Applications of Risk and Reliability Analyses
    Department of Management Science

    You will preferably have a PhD in Operational Research, Probability or Statistics, and will join a lively group working in Management Science on theory and applications of risk and reliability analyses

    This group has an international reputation, and works together with leading companies and agencies on a number of different applied and theoretical projects. The Strathclyde Risk Consortium brings together a number of businesses and government agencies to work with us on themes of common interest and to generate new research problems. We have externally funded research projects including an EPSRC-funded project on availability of wind turbines, where we work with the Strathclyde Institute for Energy and Environment and renewables companies, and a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Scottish Water

    The Department of Management Science is one of the UK's leading OR departments, running amongst other things successful MScs in Operational Research and Business Analysis and Consulting

    Details about the department can be found at http://www.managementscience.org

    For an application pack visit http://vacancies.strath.ac.uk or contact Human Resources, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XQ. Tel. 0141 553 4133, quoting ref: JA/R1/2011.

    Closing date: 09 February 2011.

    http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/ACC987/research-associate/

    03 Feb 2011
  • The General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) is seeking views to help determine the shape of its future Demography statistical work programme.

    If you would like to contribute your views please visit the GROS website for more information and instructions on how to respond to the consultation.


    31 Jan 2011
  • A very small error has been discovered in some of the datazone rates and ranks associated with the annual update to the employment domain.

    Please note that this is a minor error which only affects the rates and ranks of some of the relatively less deprived datazones in the employment domain annual update.

    There is no impact on SIMD 2009 and the statistical bulletin associated with the annual updates is not affected.

    Explanation

    When the income and employment domain annual updates were published in October, only rates, and not counts, of deprived individuals were available in the datazone level background data.  More recently, we approached DWP so that we could add datazone level counts of income and employment deprived people to this background data.

    While check these counts against the rates provisionally received some small inconsistencies were identified.  Unfortunately, upon further checking, DWP found that the employment domain rates which they had previously provided (and that had been published) were incorrect for 37 datazones.  This in turn has an impact upon the domain ranks for these datazones and a number of other surrounding datazones.

    All of the datazones which have been affected are in deciles 9 and 10 and so any analysis of the most deprived datazones remains valid.

    Corrected employment domain rates have now been published on the SIMD website, as have counts of income and deprived individuals.  These can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/SIMD/AnnualUpdates

    If you have any questions regarding this please contact Andrew White.

    31 Jan 2011
  • On Thursday 20th January, at the House of Lords, the Academy of Social Sciences will launch a major Campaign to promote UK social science and raise its visibility in government and among the general public. This is against the context of changes to funding teaching and research. The Campaign will build substantially on the Academy’s activities in Making the Case for Social Sciences over the past 12 months.

    http://www.acss.org.uk/CfSS/CampaignforSocialScienceandDevelopmentAppeal.htm

    20 Jan 2011
  • CRFR announce their sixth new researchers in families and relationships conference  which will provide an opportunity to discuss research issues and present papers in a supportive environment.  The conference will include:

    • Presentations by new researchers on either substantive topics, theoretical issues, or methodological issues or innovations
    • Opportunities to discuss work and network with peers 
    • Personal and career development opportunity in presenting research 
    • Discussion of research issues with like-minded colleagues

    This is a multi-disciplinary and cross-sector event.  Around fifty new researchers attended each of the previous events, with papers presented by new researchers from a range of voluntary organisations and academic disciplines and institutions.

    Who are 'New Researchers'?
    By new researchers we mean people who have been working in a research environment for 5 years or less. This can be either within or outside the academic sector including Ph.D. students, other postgraduate students, researchers/lecturers within five years of completing their Ph.D. and academics returning to research, and researchers from the voluntary sector, Local Government, National Government and the private sector.

    Conference Venue
    John McIntyre Centre, Pollock Halls of Residence, University of Edinburgh

    Call for Papers
    Abstracts of up to 250 words should be submitted by 31st January 2011 from new researchers who wish to present a conference paper. Abstracts should either be
    submitted via our website (www.crfr.ac.uk) or emailed to crfr.events@ed.ac.uk

    Costs
    Registration fee of £95.00 includes buffet lunch and light refreshments. 

    Further information please contact:
    Laura Marshall, Training & Events Administrator
    L.marshall@ed.ac.uk or 0131 651 3001

    CRFR 10 years - exploring why relationships matter

    20 Jan 2011
  • NCRM Training Programme
    National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) have released their training programme for Feb - May 2011.  View the programme

    RESEARCH METHODS TRAINING BURSARIES
    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. Further information about bursaries and online application form are available from http://www.ncrm.ac.uk/about/funding/training/ 

    There is no prescribed list of accepted training courses, but applicants may like to use the NCRM Training & Events database http://www.ncrm.ac.uk/training/ to help in locating a course.

    ABOUT NCRM:
    National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) is a £12M investment by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). NCRM forms a part of  the ESRC's strategy to improve the standards of research methods across the UK social science community. For further information about NCRM please go to www.ncrm.ac.uk

    19 Jan 2011
  • The second call for applications to AQMeN's Collaborative Small Grants Scheme will close on 28th January 2011.

    For further information click here.

    17 Jan 2011
  • Our survey of teaching staff will now close on Friday 21st January.  If you wish to participate in our consultation exercise for the development of two new teaching modules on statistical analysis, please click here.

    17 Jan 2011
  • The Centre for Multilevel Modelling would like to announce our latest MLwiN release - 2.22. 

    Some minor bugs have been fixed - for further information on what has been fixed click here.

    Upgrade to new release.

    For anyone thinking of purchasing MLwiN, the license prices remain the same as for 2009 for the time being.  However, from the 4th January the prices have been affected by the VAT increase.

    If you wish to order MLwiN, or check out the new manual pacakages that are available click here.

    17 Jan 2011
  • There was once an annual summer conference held at the Royal Statistical Society in London and over 500 eminent statisticians from all around the world were in attendance to hear a major speech on a significant breakthrough in computational algorithms.

    Mid-way through the afternoon, during one of the key lectures to this loft assembly, one of the statisticians in the audience got up from his chair, walked to the middle of one of the gangways, flapped his arms each side of himself very gently, and began to rise up into he air, went right across the top of the room and out through an open window.  But no one in the room batted an eyelid - because 1 in 500 is not significant.

    17 Jan 2011
  • PhD Opportunity at the University of Aberdeen. Closing Date for applications is 28th February 2011.

    Supervisor(s):
    Dr D Jackson, Dr J Macdiarmid & Dr G McNeill

    Funded by:
    MRC-DTG

    Eligibility:
    Candidates must have a First Class Honours Degree or a Distinction at Masters level.

    This studentship is open to UK citizens only.

    For further information on eligibility visit:
    http://www.abdn.ac.uk/clsm/graduate/prospective/MRCFlagship.php

    As well as receiving a funded studentship for four years, the successful student will have a place in the Aberdeen/MRC Flagship student leadership course.

    Information:
    Childhood obesity rates have risen steadily over the last few decades.  Increased TV viewing has been consistently shown to  be linked to increased body fatness in children and there is some evidence that the relationship may be stronger in younger children.  Childhood dietary patterns and TV viewing are related; however, what role this takes is unclear.  This project will investigate the diet and TV viewing relationship in more detail within families of young children and explore the family lifestyle attitudes and behaviours that could be mediating the TV viewing/diet relationship.  The ultimate aim is to develop an intervention aimed at TV viewing and dietary behaviours.  This PhD project would be 'Phase 1' in the intervention development in accordance with the MRC framework for complex interventions and would develop a greater understanding of the processes involved by gathering evidence of behaviours and mechanisms that influence outcomes (Campbell et al 2000, Craig et al 2008).


    For further information and details on how to apply visit:
    http://www.abdn.ac.uk/clsm/graduate/researchdetails.php?ID=790

    10 Jan 2011
  • UPDATE - 20 December  2010

    In December, the Authority published the following Assessment reports, on:

    • Consumer Price Indices (Office for National Statistics)
    • Further Education and Skills (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills)
    • Higher Education in England and the UK (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Higher Education Statistics Agency and the Student Loans Company)
    • Post-16 Education in Wales (Welsh Assembly Government)
    • Lifelong Learning in Scotland (Scottish Government)
    • Higher Education in Northern Ireland (Department for Employment and Learning, Northern Ireland)
    • Annual Employment Statistics from the Business Register and Employment Survey (Office for National Statistics)
    • Agricultural accounts, agricultural prices and farm business statistics (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
    • Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (Welsh Assembly Government)
    • Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (Scottish Government)
    • Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency)
    • Adoptions in England and Wales (Office for National Statistics)
    • Child Protection in Scotland (Scottish Government)
    • Benefits, Employment Programmes, Sanctions and Vacancies (Department for Work and Pensions)

      Assessment reports are available to download at http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/assessment/assessment-reports/index.html

      The list of those Assessments currently underway is at http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/assessment/current-assessments/ind.... If you would like to provide any feedback on those statistics that we are currently assessing, please click on the relevant topic page to find out more details.

      If you have any questions, or would like to discuss anything in more detail, please do get in touch with Cecilia Macintyre (details below). Please feel free to pass this on to any of your colleagues who you think may be interested in our updates. If you would prefer not to receive periodic updates from us, do let me know and we will remove you from the mailing list.

    22 Dec 2010
  • The latest edition of Scottish Transport Statistics was published today together with an update 
    of Key transport statistics card. It includes:
    (a) a Summary section which describes trends over the past 10 years, compares key
    statistics
    with figures for Great Britain and provides longer- term historical series;
    (b) chapters on Road transport vehicles, Bus and coach travel, Road freight, Road network, 
    Road traffic, Reported injury road accidents, Rail services,
    Air transport, Water transport,
    Finance and Personal and cross-modal travel;
    (c) a section on International Comparisons.
    http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Transport-Travel/PubScotTrans
    20 Dec 2010
  • CRESC at the University of Manchester has a vacancy for a Research Associate in Quantitative
    analyses of social and cultural participation. Further details:

    http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/ABY993/research-associate/

    07 Dec 2010
  • The 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 about the bursaries and to apply please see: www.ncrm.ac.uk/about/funding/training/

    07 Dec 2010
  • The UK Statistics Authority has criticised the employment minister Christopher Grayling for using official statistics not in the public domain, highlighting the importance of transparency in publication to public trust. http://www.rssenews.org.uk/articles/20101129

    02 Dec 2010
  • Watch the Joy of Stats preview: http://www.rssenews.org.uk/#joyofstats

    BBC4 is screening the full programme, which is presented by Professor Hans Rosling at 2100hrs GMT on 7th December. 

    Global health expert, Hans Rosling, who has become one of the world's leading data visualisation experts brought his inimitable presentation skills to the hour long programme and romped through the field of statistics with the help of RSS fellow David Spiegelhalter, the Society's archives and many other acclaimed researchers and scientists.

    02 Dec 2010
  • An Agenda for Research at a time of Educational Reform in Scotland

    The Royal Society of Edinburgh has just published an advisory paper on the kinds of data and research that are needed to evaluate the current major reforms taking place in Scottish school education. Read the paper here.  Any enquiries about this submission should be sent to: evidenceadvice@royalsoced.org.uk.  Responses are published on the RSE website: www.royalsoced.org.uk.

    01 Dec 2010
  • AQMeN's Director, Susan McVie, will address the Scottish Government Annual Statistics Conference at Pollock Halls in Edinburgh today. 

    The title of the paper is 'Doing Justice to Statistics' and Professor McVie will share her experience as a user of crime and justice statistics, as well as highlighting some of the future challenges for users and producers of official statistics.

    18 Nov 2010
  • A new teaching dataset is available for download from ESDS: The British Crime Survey 2007-2008 Teaching Dataset:-

    http://www.esds.ac.uk/findingData/snDescription.asp?sn=6561

    The teaching dataset is based on the British Crime Survey, 2007-2008, but it is a subset of the data, with some simplifications and additions for the purpose of learning and teaching. The addition of 10 scalar variables using variables from the original BCS 2007-2008 dataset facilitates the teaching of a range of statistical techniques including correlations and linear regression techniques.

     

    10 Nov 2010
  • 1) The Centre for Multilevel Modelling would like to announce our latest MLwiN release - 2.21. Some minor bug fixes have been introduced, e.g: Fixed offset display; Fixed crash when saving worksheets containing an MCMC run that had been loaded from a previous version. For further details of the bug fixes go to:-

    http://www.cmm.bristol.ac.uk/MLwiN/bugs/fixes.shtml 

    2) We have published two new on-line audio-visual presentations: "Random Intercept Models" and "Random Slope Models". Further details of these and our other audio-visual presentations can be found here:-

    http://www.cmm.bristol.ac.uk/learning-training/videos/index.shtml

    3) In October the University of Bristol hosted Harvard's Professor Don Rubin giving "Causal Inference" talks - Further details and download the presentations here:-

    http://www.cmm.bristol.ac.uk/research/rss-users-group.shtml#rubin

    4) Two-Day Course on Multilevel Modelling presented by the Centre for Multilevel Modelling's Harvey Goldstein and George Leckie, at the Royal Statistical Society in London.  Download further details here:-

    http://www.rss.org.uk/docs/Multilevel_modelling_flyer_Nov10.doc

    5) We have been compiling a Tribute Book for our late and much-missed colleague Jon Rasbash. The aim is to collect memories of him in his professional life, whether of collaborating with him, encountering him at a conference, attending one of his workshops, or even just having been influenced by his research. We want to preserve both an idea of the impact of his work but also a sense of what he was like personally. The finished Tribute Book will be given to his family, and a copy will also be kept at CMM. More details about the Tribute Book, including where to send submissions, can be found here:-

    http://www.cmm.bristol.ac.uk/team/jon.shtml#tribute

    The deadline for contributions is the end of this year.

     

    10 Nov 2010
  • Department of Mathematics & Statistics

    Applications are invited for a one-year research position in the area of statistical sampling, to be led by Professor George Gettinby and Dr Alison Gray in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde.

    This project will review existing guidelines for the sampling of aquaculture products coming onto the UK market both domestically and from overseas,for detection of residues of veterinary pharmaceuticals. After information gathering, data collection, and investigation of alternative sampling schemes, computer simulations will be carried out and recommendations will be made for suitable sampling strategies applicable to aquaculture products.

    This one-year post funded by Defra is ideally suited to postdoctoral applicants with experience and/or interest in statistical sampling techniques, veterinary epidemiology and food safety, seeking to apply their skills in an important area relevant to public health. An aptitude for statistical programming is essential.

    The applicant will be based at University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, but will meet withdomain experts elsewhere in the UK for information gathering and reporting purposes.

    The preferred starting date is 10th January 2011. Applications should be lodged with Human Resources, University of Strathclyde,McCance Building,16 Richmond Street, Glasgow, G1 1XQ no later than Wednesday 17th November 2010.

    For an application pack and further details visit http://vacancies.strath.ac.uk or contact Human Resources, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XQ.

    Tel. 0141 553 4133, quoting ref: JA/R71/2010.

    Informal enquiries regarding the post can be directed to Professor George Gettinby

    (email:g.gettinby@strath.ac.uk; tel: 0141-548-3654) or

    Dr Alison Gray (email:a.j.gray@strath.ac.uk;  tel:  0141-548-4335).

    10 Nov 2010
  • University of St Andrews

    We are looking to recruit a Research Fellow to the UK’s National Centre for Statistical Ecology (NCSE). The successful candidate will, jointly with supervisor and NCSE co-Director Steve Buckland (steve@mcs.st-and.ac.uk), coordinate two research themes across NCSE: biodiversity monitoring methodologies and spatial and spatio-temporal models for ecological communities. You will also carry out research on biodiversity monitoring methodologies, and on designed experiments in distance sampling.

    You should have a PhD in Statistics or closely related discipline, and publications in top journals. A PhD or research publications in statistical ecology would be a strong advantage. You should have statistical programming experience, be an effective communicator, and have evidence of innovative research abilities. Start date:1 Jan 2011 or later. The duration of the post is 2.5 years Appointment will be at grade 7, start salary of £36,715 per annum, or, for a candidate with less experience or knowledge of the area, at grade 6, salary range £29,853 - £35,656 per annum. Closing date: 23 November 2010.

    How to apply: online at https://www.vacancies.st-andrews.ac.uk/welcome.aspx or call +44 (0)1334 462571 for an application pack Please quote ref: JC7693

    10 Nov 2010
  • The Royal Statistical Society launched their new campaign 'getstats' to coincide with the World Statistics Day on 20.10.2010

    Through getstats, the RSS aim to reach out to new and wider audiences, raising awareness of the benefits of statistics, and creating paths to the know-how and skills needed to make statistics work for them.

    Learn more

    22 Oct 2010
  • The NHS Information Centre Trusted Data Linkage Service has been developed to provide researchers with access to high quality health care data whilst maintaining patient confidentiality.

    A range of data linkage services are provided including the linkage of preson identifiable datasets into an anonymised format.  This process effectively reduces the IT security level needed to carry out research, minimises the time and skill level needed by a researcher to successfully link datasets and improves the potential for health related research which might otherwise not have been possible.

    Full details are provided on the ADLS website.

    For further information, contact Darren Lightfoot.

    22 Oct 2010
  • The Supporting People Programme is a central government funded programme which is managed and delivered at the local level by the 152 top tier administering authorities in England.  Through the provision of housing-related support services the Supporting People Programme offers vulnerable people the opportunity to improve their quality of life by providing a stable environment which enables greater independence.

    The Supporting People Programme collects three separate administrative datasets in total:

    • Client Records - collects information at the point a client starts housing related support.
    • Outcomes for Short-term Services - records information when the client leaves short-term support services (defined as less then two years in duration).
    • Outcomes for Long-term Services - records information about the clients who receive support services for more than two years in duration.  This is collected on a sample basis only.

    A wide variety of information is collected across the three datasets including client group, referral source, support provider, support need, planned and unplanned moves, accommodation type, subject to ASBO and homelessness status.

    Detailed information about Supporting People data (including access procedures) is now available on the ADLS website.

    For further information on these datasets or the ADLS contact Darren Lightfoot.

    22 Oct 2010
  • 13 October 2010: UNIDO INDSTAT2 now available at ESDS International 2010.

    ESDS International hosted by Mimas at the University of Manchester is delighted to announce the release of UNIDO INSTAT2 database.

    This new database is derived from the two existing databases INDSTAT3 and INDSTAT4 by ISIC Rev2 and Rev3. 

    INDSTAT2 2010 Edition combines historical time series data from 1963 to 2008 for 161 countries.

    INDSTAT2 is the largest industrial statistics database of its kind.  Unlike other presented by different classification standards for different time periods, INDSTAT2 provides data by a single classification standard for more than 40 years, which makes it particularly valuable for long-term structural analysis.  As with INDSTAT4, INDSTAT2 presents data for seven principle indicators:

    • number of establishments
    • employment
    • wages and salaries
    • output
    • value added
    • gross fixed capital formation
    • number of female employees

    The value figures are presented in current prices.  The database includes the index numbers of industrial production, which show the real growth of the volume of production by 2-digit of ISIC Rev3.

    ESDS International provide the following guides for the UNIDO INDSTAT2 database:

    All databases within the ESDS International data portfolio are full versions of the data and are freely available to students, researchers and staff at UK Further and Higher education institutions via federated access management authentication and ESDS online registration.

    Note: We cannot provide data to users outside of this community due to the data re-distribution licence agreements we have with our data providers.

    The UNIDO INSTAT2 database can be access via federated access management authentication.

    If you have any problems finding and accessing the data or have any feedback on the service please contact us.

    Mimas, The University of Manchester
    Tel: +44 (0) 161 275 6109
    Email:international@esds.ac.uk
    URL: www.esds.ac.uk/International

    22 Oct 2010
  • In July, the UK Data Archive successfully launched its new website.    The website has a clearer and more consistent feel, to present a more open and contemporary image of our role in the social sciences and research.

    There are a few changes to note:

    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 archived in 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 accesses, much as it is now.
    4. The 'Managing & Sharing' pages are now called 'Create & Manage', and while they look different, the content is the same.
    5. There is a new series of case studies submitted by users featuring how they have used the data.

    The changes aim to enhance user experience, but there may be some short-term inconvenience as users become familiar with the new style and layout.

    If you have any links to pages or sections of the old website, please update them.  Automatic redirects will be removed from the site at the end of October 2010.  If you have any difficulty locating information  on the new website, please contact the Data Archive.

    22 Oct 2010
  • The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has introduced a core set of questions to six of its UK population surveys.  The data for these core questions have been combined into a single dataset called the Integrated Household Survey (IHS). The first results from the Integrated Household Survey have been published by ONS today at:-

    http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=15381

    The core questions cover seven broad topic areas -- demographics, labour market,income, education & qualifications, housing, migration and health. A question on self identified sexual orientation has been introduced to the IHS following a substantial programme of work by the ONS to develop an acceptable question which would not have an adverse effect on survey response rates.  The IHS results contain the first official estimates of the proportion of the UK population who identify as Gay,Lesbian or Bisexual.

    The total sample size of the IHS across the UK is almost 450,000 with a sample size in Scotland of 55,000.

    The IHS results have been classified as 'experimental statistics' by ONS. Experimental statistics are new statistics undergoing evaluation. They are published in order to involve users and stakeholders in their development and as a means to build in quality. As such users should exercise some caution when analysing and interpreting IHS data.  As the data are experimental ONS recommends that any publication that includes IHS data should state the experimental branding.

    Further information can be obtained from:-

    Neil Bannister, 01633 455 704, neil.bannister@ons.gsi.gov.uk
    Caroline Jones, 01633 456 734, caroline.jones@ons.gsi.gov.uk

    30 Sep 2010
  • The SG Office of the Chief Statistician, Small Area Statistics branch are undertaking a consultation into the options available for data zones as a result of population changes since Census 2001 and the planned release of data from the 2011 Population Census. Data zones are the core geography behind the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics website and most indicators on SNS are available at data zone level.  The options within the consultation have implications for much of the data held on the SNS site.The main issue for SNS is whether it’s more important for data zones to represent locally recognised boundaries and have roughly standard populations,or whether it’s more important to be able to produce a comparable time series in order to track changes over time.

    Population Change: Over time, houses will be built or demolished and some data zones will grow or shrink beyond the original population thresholds.

    Boundary Changes: Most geographies are not static. When these geographies change their boundaries, they often split data zones leading to inaccurate classifications of Census Output Areas or postcodes.

    The consultation paper http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/08/DZconsult, sets out the background to data zones, the issues associated with them and seeks your views on the various options available to the Scottish Government.

    Further information can be obtained from:-

    Telephone: 0131 244 0442
    Email:Neighbourhood.Statistics@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
    Web:www.sns.gov.uk

    30 Sep 2010
  • The RSS is launching its 10 year campaign for statistical literacy on World Statistics Day: 20/10/2010. The vision for the campaign, known to its friends as "getstats", is "a society in which our lives and choices are enriched by an understanding of statistics".

    For a chance to help shape the campaign and to ge involved, follow the link:- https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/36VNXGM to a short web questionnaire.

    It will only take a few minutes. Any general questions about the campaign should be sent to:- getstats@rss.org.uk.

    30 Sep 2010
  • Data from the fourth year of data collection is now available to download from the UK Data Archive/ESDS:

    http://www.esds.ac.uk/findingData/snDescription.asp?sn=5760

    Data Documentation, including a copy of the Questionnaire and a list of variables are also available from the ESDS or from the GUS website ‘Using GUS data’ page:

    http://www.crfr.ac.uk/gus/using%20data.html

    Presentations and materials from the GUS Data Workshops held in Edinburgh and Glasgow in Dec 2009/ Jan 2010 are also available to download from the page.

    At Sweep 4, the children in the birth cohort were aged just under 4 years and the children in the child aged just under 6 years. Height and weight measurements were taken from all children. Sweep 4 includes detailed questions about parenting techniques and parent/child activities, as well as information relating to the transition to primary school for the child cohort children.

    To download the published reports from Sweep 4 please visit the GUS website:

    www.growingupinscotland.org.uk

    Are you using GUS data?

    Information from the ESDS tells us who has downloaded the data but provides limited information about the way it is being used.  If you are using GUS to inform your research, please do let us know. It is very important that we are able demonstrate the value of the data. If you attended one of our recent Data Workshops but decided not to download the data, please let us know why. In particular, we’re keen to hear if there’s anything further we can assist you with in accessing and
    using the data.

    If you downloaded the data but are not currently using it, it would be helpful if you could let us know the reasons for this.  Again, we’re particularly keen to hear if there’s anything further we can assist you with in using the data.

    Please reply to Lesley Kelly, GUS Dissemination Officer,
    lesley.kelly@ed.ac.uk, Centre for Research on Families and Relationships (CRFR),
    The University of Edinburgh, 23 Buccleuch Place,  Edinburgh EH8 9LN, Phone: 0131 651 5004
    www.growingupinscotland.org.uk

    11 Aug 2010
  • 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/

    09 Aug 2010
  • MLwiN release - 2.20. Some minor new features/bug fixes have been introduced, eg, Fixed bug in MOVE command with non-default column names, also MCMC seed menu option now applies to macros too. For further details, visit http://www.cmm.bris.ac.uk/MLwiN/bugs/fixes.shtml

    09 Aug 2010
  • 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

    09 Aug 2010
  • The Centre for Multilevel Modelling is seeking to appoint two social statisticians or social scientists with advanced quantitative skills for two ESRC-funded research projects.

    Research Assistant/Associate in Social Statistics (vacancy ref. 15633), 34 months from 1 October 2010

    We are seeking to appoint a statistician or quantitative social scientist to join an interdisciplinary research team on a new ESRC-funded project Interrelationships between Housing Transitions and Fertility in Britain and Australia. The appointment will be at either Research Assistant or Research Associate level according to experience.

    The principal aim of the project is to examine the extent to which tenure changes and residential mobility are triggered by fertility outcomes such as the birth of a(nother) child or a child reaching primary or secondary school age, allowing for the effects of other social processes such as union formation and dissolution and employment changes. We will also consider the effects of household structure (e.g. comparing lone parents and couples with children) and the extent to which couples move in anticipation of childbearing, particularly during pregnancy. The project will use data from the British Household Panel Study and the Housing, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey. The project is led by Fiona Steele at Bristol with colleagues from the Universities of Queensland, Essex and Liverpool. Further details of the project can be found at http://www.cmm.bris.ac.uk/research/Housing-Transitions/index.shtml

    You will assist in various strands of the project, including data management, data analysis and the preparation of publications and training materials.

    Closing Date for applications: 23 August 2010

    Further details and an application form can be found at http://www.bris.ac.uk/boris/jobs/feeds/ads?ID=89012

    Research Assistant in Social Statistics (vacancy ref.15634), 1 year from 1 October 2010

    We are seeking to appoint a statistician or quantitative social scientist to join an interdisciplinary research team specialising in the analysis of social data with complex structure to address substantive research questions. The researcher will work on the ESRC-funded project Learning Environment for Multilevel Methodology and Applications (LEMMA 2). LEMMA 2 is part of the National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) which consists of a co-ordinating Hub at the University of Southampton and six Nodes spread across the UK. LEMMA is co-ordinated by Fiona Steele, Harvey Goldstein (both Graduate School of Education) and Bill Browne (School of Clinical Veterinary Sciences), and also involves George Leckie and Jo-Anne Baird from the Graduate School of Education and colleagues from the School of Geographical Sciences and Department of Economics. Further details of the LEMMA 2 project can be found at http://www.cmm.bris.ac.uk/research/Lemma/2/index.shtml

    You will assist in various strands of the project, including data management, data analysis and the preparation of publications and training materials.

    Closing Date for applications: 23 August 2010

    Further details and an application form can be found at http://www.bris.ac.uk/boris/jobs/feeds/ads?ID=89010

    04 Aug 2010
  • 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

    03 Aug 2010
  • Frontier Science (Scotland) Ltd is based in the Cairngorm National Park in the Scottish Highlands.

    In collaboration with colleagues in Brussels and Boston, we provide statistical leadership for several cancer trials. We are looking for the following staff:

    SAS PROGRAMMER

    The SAS programmer will work with the statistical and programming team to develop and test programs for analysis and reporting of clinical trials. At least two years experience of SAS in a clinical trials environment is required. Education to degree level, and experience with CDISC, preferred. Salary for this position is negotiable based on qualifications and experience. The position may involve overseas travel.

    Frontier Science is an equal opportunity employer and offers excellent benefits and working conditions. The position will initially be a three year contract, but has the possibility of
    becoming a permanent position.

    Closing Date for Applications: August 13, 2010

    Application forms and additional information are available on our website, www.frontier-science.co.uk or by contacting Ian Bradbury, Frontier Science (Scotland)Ltd, Grampian View, Kincraig PH21 1NA, Tel: 01540 651 000, Email:Ian.bradbury@frontier-science.co.uk

    03 Aug 2010
  • 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

    03 Aug 2010
  • Professor Paul Boyle, Head of the School of Geography and Geosciences at the University of St Andrews has accepted an invitation to become the new Chief Executive and Deputy Chair of the ESRC. The details of the appointment have been published on the BIS website news page.

    http://www.bis.gov.uk/news

    03 Aug 2010
  • 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.

     

    26 Jul 2010
  • A guide has been published as part of the ESRC /HEFCE Quantitative Methods Initiative encouraging social science students to use quantitative methods in their studies and careers.

    Read the guide

    About the ESRC/HEFCE Quantitative Methods Initiative

    20 Jul 2010
  • 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.

    20 Jul 2010
  • 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 visit the NCRM website.
    09 Jul 2010
  • 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

    02 Jul 2010
  • 24th June 2010, ISD Scotland release statitics in Childhood Immunisations.

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

    Further information can be obtained from:

    Telephone: 0131 275 7777
    Email: ncss@csd.nhs.net

     

     

    29 Jun 2010
  • 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.

    23 Jun 2010
  • Funded places are still available for MSc courses at the University of St Andrews:


    There are two 1-year taught MSc programmes on offer:

    MSc 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.

    MSc 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 scholarship subject to eligibility. Further Details.

    Enquiries to

    Andre Tiftickjian amt21@st-andrews.ac.uk      or
    Carl Donovan        carl@mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk

    23 Jun 2010
  • 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

    23 Jun 2010
  • The Centre for Multilevel Modelling would like to announce our latest MLwiN release - 2.2.0.

    Some minor new features and bug fixes have been introduced including:

    - Fixed bug in MOVE command with non-default column names
    - MCMC seed menu option now applies to macros too

    Further details

    Upgrade to version 2.20

    "Developing multilevel models for REAListically COMplex social science data"

    Our Realcom and Realcom-Impute applications have been updated.

    Realcom and Realcom-Impute are free downloadable applications to enhance MLwiN under certain conditions.

    Further Details on Realcom

    Further Details on Realcom-Impute

    23 Jun 2010
  • 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

    11 Jun 2010
  • The new electronic version of "Stata News, Volume 25, Number 2 is now available.

    A highlight of this issue is the announcement of Stata 11.1, a free update to Stata 11 with many new features.  Also inside this issue:

    * "Stata makes a difference at the World Bank: Automated poverty analysis"
    * New from Stata Press: /Data Management Using Stata: A Practical Handbook/
    * In the spotlight: Factor variables
    * In the spotlight: The generalized method of moments
    * Stata Conference Boston 2010
    * Stata/MP Performance Report updated
    * Public training courses
    * New from the Stata Bookstore
    * Users Group meetings
    * Upcoming NetCourses

    11 Jun 2010
  • 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

    11 Jun 2010
  • Polly Toynbee uses her Guardian column to call for continued investment in Britain's 'unique series' of birth cohort studies.

    Read more

    11 Jun 2010
  • The following new edition has been released:

    SN 6361 - Scottish Household
    Survey, 2007-2008

    http://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.

    07 Jun 2010
  • Registration is now open for the RSS 2010 international conference which will take place in Brighton between Monday 13 and Friday 17 September.

    An impressive line-up of plenary speakers has been assembled by the conference committee and they are joined by contributors to over 25 invited sessions. In addition more than 100 contributed submissions have been accepted for oral presentation and a further 40 for presentation as posters.

    As usual, in addition to the main programme the organisers have arranged an exciting social programme including events on Brighton Pier and at the Brighton Sealife Centre.

    Also on 13 September there will be a choice of pre-conference courses and workshops as well as the Young Statisticians Training Day which will this year focus on getting the most from the conference.

    Download the registration form (Acrobat PDF, opens in new window)

    For full details visit www.rss.org.uk/rss2010.

    28 May 2010
  • 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

    26 May 2010
  • SCOTTISH SOCIAL ATTITUDES SURVEY 2009: PUBLIC ATTITUDES TO DRUGS AND
    DRUG USE IN SCOTLAND

    The above research report and research findings were published on Tuesday 25 May 2010.

    Links to the report and research findings are provided below.


    Report

    Research Findings

    26 May 2010
  • 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.

    26 May 2010
  • The Ipsos MORI Research Methods Centre is pleased to present the first edition of its Newsletter. The Centre is keen to use this to update the UK research community on the methodological work which we are undertaking at Ipsos MORI.  In it is presented material relevant to those with an interest in survey methods.In this issue you will find results of meta-analysis of primacy effects found in our Omnibus data,suggestions for improving the quality of online panels, two experiments on postal surveys, and a thought piece from Dr Patten Smith, the editor. http://www.ipsos-mori.com/Assets/Docs/RMC_understanding-research-methods-newsletter_may2010.pdf The Research Methods Centre provides a hub of expertise in sampling, survey methodology and advanced data analysis for researchers across the company and to clients. Its mission is to develop a widely respected cutting-edge methodological unit, and to maximise company-wide quantitative methodological knowledge and expertise. The team comprises a core group of five statistical and methodological experts, led by Dr Patten Smith and Dr Andrew Zelin, who have published a number of methodological reports and papers in academic journals.  For further information, please see http://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchtechniques/rmc.aspxe
    26 May 2010
  • 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

    25 May 2010
  • The indicators used in the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) are now available on the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics website - www.sns.gov.uk

    In the coming months, SIMD reporter will be added to SNS which will enable you to pull out all the SIMD indicators in a single report.

    More details of where to find the indicators on SNS can be found here:

    www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/SIMD/News

    24 May 2010
  • 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

    18 May 2010
  • Institute for Social and Economic Research, ESRC 1+3 /+3 Studentships


    ISER is offering up to 10 ESRC studentships to outstanding Masters and PhD candidates starting in October 2010.

    Three 1+3 studentships linked to the ESRC Research Centre on
    Micro-Social Change (MiSoC)
    Two 1+3 and one +3 studentship linked to the UK Longitudinal Studies Centre (ULSC)

    Four studentships across ISER’s full range of disciplines

    MiSoC studentships (1+3)
    These studentships are specifically linked to projects under the MiSoC research programme:

    Non-standard work careers and their implications for household well-being
    Inter-ethnic unions in the UK
    Data combination methods in the social sciences


    ULSC studentships
    These studentships are specifically linked to the UK Longitudinal Studies Centre:

    New Migrants in Understanding Society: household structure; mobility; attrition (+3)

    Weighting for longitudinal surveys (1+3)

    Social factors, family relationships and mental health consequences of bullying and victimisation of youths (NB 1+3 based at the University of Warwick)

    If you are interested in beginning a research career at one of the most highly-regarded Institutes for the production and analysis of
    longitudinal data, we would like to hear from you.

    ISER offers an academic environment that is second to none. Postgraduate students are taught, supervised by, and associate with, some of the leading researchers in their fields. +3 students are based within ISER where they enjoy first rate facilities, office space and computing support.

    Applications

    Deadline for applications is June 1 2010. Applicants should normally have, or be expecting, a good Class II honours degree or equivalent for the 1+3 studentships and a Masters degree for the +3 studentships. 

    Details of all studentships are available at; w ww.iser.essex.ac.uk,

    Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex,
    Colchester, Essex, UK, CO4 3SQ,  iser@essex.ac.uk, Telephone: +44 (0)1206 872957

    10 May 2010
  • 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".

    30 Apr 2010
  • Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM

    School of Mathematics and Statistics

    University of St Andrews,  Scotland

    Closing date for applications:  24 May 2010

    The post is for 1 year, with a possible extension to a further 2 years,and is available from 1 July 2010, or as soon as possible thereafter.You will collaborate with other research staff within the Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM) to write, test and maintain computer code to implement new statistical methods developed within the centre.You may also participate in development of the new methods and in writing up the research outputs for publication.

    If desired, there is the possibility to co-teach the more computational parts of some undergraduate courses.

    You will work on a variety of projects.The main project involves extending the software Distance, written by members of CREEM (and others) to allow the design and analysis of distance sampling surveys of wildlife populations. Other potential projects involve implementing code in the statistical environment R to allow statistical modelling of wildlife population dynamics; writing code in a 3rd generation language (3GL) to model animal movement based on tag data; implementing parallel processing techniques; and writing Bayesian statistical models in the software OpenBUGS.

    You should have training and practical experience in scientific computing, and some training in statistics.You should be familiar with the statistical environment R; experience of 3GLs is desirable, as is experience with Visual Basic, OpenBUGS and parallel programming. Good communication and team working skills are essential, and experience working collaboratively within a research environment is desirable. An interest in statistical ecology will be a distinct advantage.

    £29,853 - £35,646 per annum

    Informal enquiries to Dr Len Thomas - len@mcs.st-and.ac.uk

    Closing date for applications: 24 May 2010

    Interviews will be held on 4th June 2010

    Further particulars of the position are available from the university
    recruitment web site; www.vacancies.st-andrews.ac.uk

    27 Apr 2010
  • 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.


    22 Apr 2010
  • Twenty-07 Data Scientist MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Glasgow Fixed term: 2 years Salary range £26,022 to £31,758 pa We are looking for a Data Scientist for the West of Scotland Twenty-07: Health in the Community Study which is an extensive longitudinal study of three age cohorts, living in and around Greater Glasgow, who have been followed since 1987 (http://www.sphsu.mrc.ac.uk/studies/2007_study/). The Study is based in the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, a leading research establishment in the field of population health sciences. For further information about the Unit visit www.sphsu.mrc.ac.uk. This is a 2-year appointment during which time you be responsible for developing the Twenty-07's data archive and data management systems. You will be an experienced and motivated person with a background in a relevant research field and/or in data management. You will have worked in a research environment, and understand the value of data and the need to take their custodianship seriously. You will have the capacity to implement a range of data management solutions and work with data stored in statistical packages (e.g. SPSS), and you will be an effective communicator, well organised and have a keen attention to detail. We would be willing to support someone wishing to gain further professional qualifications in data management and curation whilst in post. This is a Medical Research Council Band 4 post with a salary range of £26,022 to £31,758; the starting salary will be commensurate with specialist knowledge and experience. Normal working hours are 36 hours, part time working will be considered. Benefits include 30 days annual leave plus 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days, competitive salary and final salary pension scheme. Please note that final appointment will be subject to pre-employment screening. For an informal discussion please contact Michaela Benzeval on 0141 357 3949 or m.benzeval@sphsu.mrc.ac.uk. Applications for this role must be made online at http://jobs.mrc.ac.uk where a full job description and person specification are available. If you do not have internet access or experience technical difficulties, please call 01793 301156 quoting reference number SPHS10/151. When applying please complete the cover letter section clearly stating your reasons for applying for the job and  how you meet the criteria listed in the Person Specification and attach a full CV. Closing date for applications: 14th May 2010. Interviews will be held during week commencing 7th June 2010. For further information about the MRC please visit www.mrc.ac.uk.
    20 Apr 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
    20 Apr 2010
  • The Centre for Multilevel Modelling is very pleased to announce the addition of Stata practicals to our free on-line multilevel modelling course. These give detailed instructions of how to carry out a range of analyses in Stata, starting from multiple regression and progressing through to multilevel modelling of continuous and binary data. Read more (and view samples of the materials): http://www.cmm.bris.ac.uk/learning-training/course.shtml Details of topics covered: http://www.cmm.bristol.ac.uk/learning-training/course-topics.shtml Example of a Stata practical (you will need to register/log in): 'Stata P 3.1: Regression with a Single Continuous Explanatory Variable' <http://www.cmm.bris.ac.uk/lemma/mod/lesson/view.php?id=234&pageid=866> The Stata practicals are complete and ready to view, though some of the quizzes refer only to MLwiN. We are currently working on revised versions of the quiz questions to make them more relevant to Stata users. We will let you know when we have completed these. This course is free. We ask only that you complete a registration form if you have not done so already, as fully as possible, to help us to conduct research into learning multilevel modelling and to improve our materials. We hope that this is a valuable resource for anyone who would like to learn more about multilevel modelling and how to apply these methods using MLwiN and Stata. Centre for Multilevel Modelling University of Bristol
    20 Apr 2010
  • 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.

    16 Apr 2010
  • RSS fellow, professor Ian Diamond has kicked off his tenure as principal and vice-chancellor of Aberdeen University by declaring his intent that it should "compete with the best in the world".

    Diamond said he was "looking forward very much to leading the University of Aberdeen and ensuring that it continues to strengthen, grow, and become established firmly as one of the world's great universities. The achievements of recent years, combined with the commitment and ambition of my new colleagues, gives us the best possible advantage in positioning the university as a major international centre of learning and research."

    Intially working at the university four days each week, Ian takes up his new role full time in October. For the next three months he will continue as chief executive of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) – a post he has held since 2003 – for one day a week.

    Diamond, once likened by the Guardian to "Father Christmas at the peak of life", is a renowned social scientist with interests in population, health, environmental issues and local government. He read statistics at the London School of Economics and St Andrews, then started lecturing at Southampton University in 1980. He worked on the 1991 and 2001 censuses, looking at undercount. Diamond chaired the Executive Group of Research Councils from 2004 until 2009.

    http://www.rssenews.org.uk/articles/20100407_1
    15 Apr 2010
  • 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
    12 Apr 2010
  • CORE QUESTION REVIEW AND CONSULTATION As many of you are aware, we are currently progressing towards aligning the major Scottish Government cross-sectional surveys in terms of design, methodology and timing.  This is to enable us to pool the responses to a number of 'Core' questions.Pooling these responses will allow us to produce more accurate estimates at a sub-national level as well as estimates of small population sub groups (such as ethnic minorities). (See the Long Term Strategy for Population Surveys www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/About/Surveys for more information). Currently, there are core questions which are not included in all the major cross-sectional surveys (such as ‘residence one year ago’) and questions which are included in all surveys which are not part of the core (such as smoking). Furthermore, since the original list was compiled, there have been many changes to the policy landscape which may have implications for data requirements. In light of this, we are currently reviewing whether the items in the core question set are the most appropriate, whether any of them should be removed, and whether any others should be added, and we would like to hear your views. The link below will take you to the consultation page: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/About/SurveyHarm/CoreQuestionReview
    12 Apr 2010
  • 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

    08 Apr 2010
  • As part of the General Register Office for Scotland’s (GROS) consultation on the 2011 Census outputs, a number of ‘roadshow’ events are being held across the country. The aim is to provide feedback to users on the preliminary consultation findings, help stimulate user involvement and provide the opportunity for direct discussion of issues
    surrounding outputs.

    Events will be held in:

    • Aberdeen - 28 April
    • Edinburgh - 5 May
    • Glasgow - 7 May
    • Inverness - 10 May

    To view the agenda and register for an event, please visit the GROS website:
    http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/census/censushm2011/preparations/consultation-and-research/formal-consultations/outputs-roadshows.html

    01 Apr 2010
  • 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.

    31 Mar 2010
  • ESRC are pleased to announce that this fellowship is in partnership with the National Audit Office.

    The call opens on the Joint Electronic Submission System on Tuesday 30 March and closes on 29 April.

    Further details and how to apply, can be found at:-



    http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/opportunities/placement/NAO4_2010.aspx




    31 Mar 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  

    29 Mar 2010
  • The Statistics Authority has recently published a Monitoring and Assessment Note summarising the findings of the first year's Assessment Reports. The Authority plans to issue updates to this Note from time to time to chart the progress of Assessment and the degree of compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Page 3 of the Note discusses the main messages for the future. The document is available on the Authority's website.

    25 Mar 2010
  • 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

    24 Mar 2010
  • Research degrees provide in depth training in a specific subject through original investigation and experiment. Postgraduate degree opportunities are offered in all disciplines and subjects across the university.

    Visit: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/research/PhDopportunities

    22 Mar 2010
  • 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.

    18 Mar 2010
  • Our banner stand has arrived and will be appearing at our various events throughout 2010.

    The AQMeN Team:- Susan McVie (standing - left), Angie Dickson (standing - middle), Heather Alexander (standing - right), Helen Brown (seated - left), Jackie Palmer (seated - right).

    banner_stand_photo

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    16 Mar 2010
  • 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

    16 Mar 2010

  • As the Data Scientist for the Twenty-07 Study, the postholder will be responsible for managing research data collected over 20 years on this key Unit study, which is used by all scientific programmes in the Unit as well as external researchers.

    Contact Michaela Benzeval by e-mail michaela@sphsu.mrc.ac.uk or by telephone 0141 357 3949 for an informal discussion. For more information visit www.mrc.ac.uk.


    09 Mar 2010
  • 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

    09 Mar 2010
  • The Statistics Authority has recently published a Monitoring and Assessment Note summarising the findings of the first year's Assessment Reports.

    The document is available on the Authority's website at the following link, and we will keep you informed of future publications.

    www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/assessment/monitoring-and-assessment-notes/monitoring---assessment-note-2-2010--findings-of-the-2009-assessment-programme.pdf




     

    08 Mar 2010
  • 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
     

    01 Mar 2010
  • Scotland's Chief Statistician has published the latest figures on the number of homicides recorded by Scottish Police Forces. There were 99 victims of homicide recorded in 2008-09, 16 fewer than in 2007-08.

    http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/02/19113939/0

    01 Mar 2010
  • 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.

    01 Mar 2010
  • Scotland’s consultation on the main statistical outputs from the 2011 Census has begun.  This consultation is an important part of the General Register Office for Scotland’s (GROS) preparations for the 2011 Census in Scotland.  It provides an opportunity for users of census data to help shape the main statistical outputs for the 2011 Census and to comment on a range of related issues.  It also enables us to give an update on the progress being made across a number of areas that bear on our plans for producing and disseminating the census results.

    This consultation is intended to provide the basis for developing, over the course of 2010, an agreed set of final specifications of the main outputs from the 2011 Census  that meet the needs of a majority of users and make the best use of data collected.  It  also seeks views from users on a number of issues relating to census outputs including: 

    • pre-defined tabular outputs
    • comparisons of 2001 and 2011 census results
    • data delivery formats
    • outputs geography – including which intermediate geographies
    • users need and what demand exists for workplace zone statistics
    • timetable for release of 2011 Census results

    Getting Involved

    The consultation is open to everyone, including members of the public. The closing date for providing submissions to this consultation is Friday 14th May 2010.

    To take part in Scotland’s 2011 Outputs Consultation please visit the GROS website:
    http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/census/censushm2011/preparations/consultation-and-research/formal-consultations/spring-10-consultation.html where all the detailed consultation documentation and instructions on how to participate can be found. 
     

    This will be a topic for discussion at the GRO-Scotland workshop as part of the AQMeN Festival of Social Science Event: The Changing Face of Scotland on 18th March 2010.  The workshop will cover some of the features of the web dissemination tools being considered for disseminating census results following the 2011 Census data.  There will also be an opportunity to ask questions about GROS' early plans for the production and dissemination of the 2011 Census results. For further information about this event visit: http://www.aqmen.ac.uk/event/foss

     

    18 Feb 2010
  • 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
     

    10 Feb 2010
  • News from The Centre for Multilevel Modelling

    We would like to announce our latest MLwiN release - 2.17.  Some minor new features have been added, e.g. Allow copying results from the "variance" window, and also some bugs have been fixed. For details of the features and bug fixes go to
    http://www.cmm.bristol.ac.uk/MLwiN/bugs/fixes.shtml

    We are pleased that our MLwiN Forum is becoming increasingly valuable and some excellent answers to questions about MLwiN and multilevel modelling are appearing on there.  Even if you think your question may not be a good one, do log on and post it anyway, we cannot guarantee anything but it may be worth a try:  http://www.cmm.bristol.ac.uk/forum/

    We recently launched a Train the Trainers initiative to increase UK capacity for delivering training courses in multilevel modelling. If you are a UK academic and would like to give your own course in multilevel modelling, we might be able to offer some support in developing your materials. For further details about how to apply for this, go to: http://www.cmm.bristol.ac.uk/learning-training/trainers.shtml
     

    03 Feb 2010
  • 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
     

    27 Jan 2010
  • New data has been added to the site over recent months including those listed in the improvement service menu of local outcome indicators. A new profile feature has been added to each of the standard reports on the SNS website. Once a report has been run, there will be an option offering ‘Profile Download’ below the table. Clicking it will allow you to download data and metadata into a neat PDF format. After clicking ‘Get Download’, a ‘Retrieve download’ link will appear for you to access your file.

    SNS users may find the new look interactive SIMD mapping website www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/SIMD a useful tool to understanding the SIMD results and background data which are also included on the SNS website. There are two versions of the site: one uses HTML pages, and the other uses Silverlight to give a more interactive experience. The site allows you to drill down to datazone level and obtain statistics for a datazone. For higher level geographies, e.g. local authority, a list of datazones within that local authority is provided along with their SIMD ranks. If you think a similar product would be useful within your own organisation, please get in touch with us.
     

    Small Area Statistics, Office of the Chief Statistician, Edinburgh

    E: jeremy.chan@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
    T: +44(0)131 244 0442
    Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics:  www.sns.gov.uk

    27 Jan 2010
  • 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

    27 Jan 2010
  • Scottish Government analysts have recently published two reports about money advice in Scotland which may be of interest to you. One is a piece of research into methods of giving money advice and the other is a report about the number of people using face-to-face money advice services during the last financial year.

    *Money advice giving methods literature review *

    Available at:
    www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/12/21134623/0

     

    The majority of literature reviewed reported a clear positive impact of debt advice on; benefit uptake; negotiations between debtors and creditors; emotional outlook: levels of stress, health and well being; levels of debt and income; knowledge and understanding; relationships with creditors and family; and student drop-out. 

    While the impact of debt problems on individuals has been fairly well researched, there is a paucity of systematic empirical evidence on the: impact of different approaches to giving money advice; long term consequences of receiving advice (particularly beyond 12 months); and the relative effects on different population sub groups, individual health, well being and relationships. Specific information about indebtedness and debt advice in Scotland and the economic and community consequences of debt escalation is limited. 

    The review concludes that there is a need to ensure advice services are equipped to deal with changing user profiles, ‘unknown’ and prolonged need. The review also highlights the benefits of comprehensively measuring and reporting successful outcomes and developing closer working links between debt advice agencies and other related support services such as Primary Care Trusts.

    *Money advice statistics 2007/08*

    Available at:
    www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/IncomePoverty/moneyadvicestats 

    Information about publicly funded, face-to-face money advice services is collected through local authorities about services in their area. Figures are collected about the number of new enquires and new cases to these services during the year (An enquiry is someone simply asking for advice, an enquiry becomes a case when the agency has to take some action - such as negotiation, advocacy or representation - to move the case forward).

    During data processing several data issues with double counting and incomparability across local authorities were detected. SG Social Inclusion Division and Communities Analytical Services are working to tackle these issues for future years.  The issues limit the amount of analysis that it is useful to carry out with these data and mean that caution should be used when making conclusions from the figures. 

    Enquiries to face-to-face money advice services rose by forty percent between 2007/08 and 2008/09, the period covering the beginning of the current recession. Of the thirty councils which returned information, twenty-five saw an increase in the number of enquiries. 

    There was also a rise in the number of new cases between 2007/08 and 2008/09 but this was smaller than for new enquiries. The number of new cases rose by six percent and the amount of new debt related to these cases rose by three percent. 

    The figures also suggest that the following groups of people are over-represented among money advice users: 
     

    Women.

    People aged 20 to 50. Younger people and the over 50s were

    under-represented. 

    Lone parents.

    People who are unemployed or unable to work due to ill health/disability. 

    People in social rented accommodation and 

    People with low incomes.

     

    Further information can be obtained from the SG Equalities and Social Inclusion Analysis team:

    Telephone:      0131 244 0794 

    Email:         social-justice-analysis@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

    ScotStat - the Scottish Government Statistics Group
     

    27 Jan 2010
  • 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

    06 Jan 2010
  • Details of two ESRC PhD projects available from September 2010 are provided at the links below.  Please note the deadline for applications below. Feel free to circulate this correspondence as appropriate.  Modern methods for detecting examiner bias in naturalistic assessment data http://www.chs.med.ed.ac.uk/education/esrcProjectProposal2010.php?pID=30

    Re-defining statistical literacy in the teaching of statistics to undergraduate medical students
    http://www.chs.med.ed.ac.uk/education/esrcProjectProposal2010.php?pID=31

    Interested candidates should contact Ms Maggie Luttrell, Postgraduate Administrator (Maggie.Luttrell@ed.ac.uk) in the first instance.

    **Deadlines for applications are 15 January 2010**

    Funding Notes
    Applicants must be UK/EU nationals and should have a good honours degree and postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject. The studentship covers tuition and, for UK nationals only, provides a stipend of £13,290 (under review) per annum (3 year maximum). 

    06 Jan 2010
  • 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).
     

    06 Jan 2010
  • The UK Statistics Authority is currently assessing school statistics produced by the Scottish Government. We would like to hear your views on the following:

    1. Why these statistics are of interest to you or your organisation.


    2. How well these statistics meet your needs (e.g. comprehensiveness, the level of detail available, timeliness, presentation, commentary, information about methods etc)

    3. How satisfied you are with the way that the producer team engages and consults with users.

    This assessment covers the following statistics: 

    Attendance and Absence in Scottish Schools 
    Children Educated Outwith School 
    Exclusions form Schools in Scotland 
    Independent School Census 
    Placing Requests in Local Authority Schools in Scotland 
    Pupils in Scotland and Pupil Projections 
    School Meals in Scotland 
    Destinations of Leavers from Scottish Schools 
    SQA Attainment and School Leaver Qualifications in Scotland 
    SQA Examination Results in Scottish Schools 
    Follow up destinations of Leavers from Scottish Schools 
    Expenditure on School Education in Scotland 
    Teachers in Scotland 
    School Estate Statistics

    If you would be willing to share your views please contact:-

    Cecilia Macintyre
    Assessment Team Leader
    UK Statistics Authority
    23 Walker Street
    Edinburgh EH3 7HX

    cecilia.macintyre@statistics.gov.uk

    Phone: 0131 220 5819 or 0131 220 5356

    THE UK STATISTICS AUTHORITY

    The UK Statistics Authority is an independent body operating at arm’s length from government. Our overall objective is to promote and safeguard the quality of official statistics. To this end, we assess all National Statistics against the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. For more information please see http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk.
     

    For information on the work of the UK Statistics Authority visit: http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk

    06 Jan 2010
  • Please see attached form which is distributed at events to highlight forthcoming assessments of devolved Scottish Statistics.  

     

    06 Jan 2010
  • The latest ScotStat newsletter contains information and links to a selection of recent and forthcoming consultations and events. Please note also that the newsletter contains links to information and papers from the recent ScotStat Annual Statistics Stakeholder Conference:

    http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/scotstat/NewsWinter09

    Further information can be obtained from:
    Email:          scotstat@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
    Web:           www.scotland.gov.uk/scotstat

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

    06 Jan 2010
  • 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

     

     

    15 Dec 2009
  • For more detailed information and registration forms please see http://www.reading.ac.uk/ssc providing your address and/or fax number, or email statistics-courses@lists.reading.ac.uk

    08 Dec 2009
  • 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 

    07 Dec 2009
  • According to Statistics Sweden, we have the second lowest rate of divorce of any profession.

     

    http://network.nature.com/people/U9E773943/blog/2009/12/04/statisitcs-good-for-you-marriage

     

    07 Dec 2009
  • 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
     

    16 Nov 2009
  • A new learning resource is now open to social researchers, students and others engaged in, or learning about, survey research and survey analysis.

     

    http://surveyresearch.weebly.com/index.html 

     

    The page has been set up by John Hall, a survey researcher for more than 40 years. Although now retired, Mr Hall is still actively involved in supporting social research through SRA and the Mark Abrams Prize.  

     

    The site contains some initial explanations of survey terminology and a series of gentle step-by-step tutorials (with screen-dumps at each step) on the use of SPSS for Windows to process and analyse data from questionnaire surveys. 

     

    There is a selection of research reports, papers and other documents relating to surveys at the SSRC Survey Unit and the Survey Research Unit at the Polytechnic of North London.

    16 Nov 2009
  • 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

    16 Nov 2009
  • The Centre for Multilevel Modelling has released MLwiN 2.15. To upgrade click here

    04 Nov 2009
  • ESRC publish a National Strategy for building a world class social science research base in quantitative methods.  See attachment.

    07 Oct 2009
  • Academy for PhD Training in Statistics (APTS) invites applications for intensive short courses on statistics and probability. more

    06 Oct 2009
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