Data Access and Data Use: the Missing Link

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Data Access and Data Use the Missing Link?

• Elizabeth Hamilton
• University of New Brunswick
• Chuck Humphrey
• University of Alberta

Data and Knowledge Transfer Research
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The Story of a DLI Exercise that just
wouldnt stop

• Project Background
• NPHS and Research Findings
• The Missing Link
• Solutions DLI as PIs

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Project Background

• Post-Atlantic 2001 DLI workshop, started building
  a database of research outcomes
• Did some preliminary analysis in July 2001 and
  shared our initial findings at the DLI EAC
  meeting in October 2001 and at CAPDU in May 2002
• June 2002 updated the database and expanded the
  search of grey literature

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The Findings

• Evidence about research outcomes
• Developed an article-based component
• Grouped literature into two categories
• government publications and academic/professional
  publications
• Identified files using
• general, health, both general health, and
  institutional
• Identified samples using
• cross-sectional, longitudinal, both, or share
• Developed the grey literature component
• Contains presentations, theses, grants, reports,
  chapters in books and books

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This is a Good News Story
NPHS Use what did we find? ? 477 Items
identified ? 310 Primary authors ? 242 Articles
discovered ? 91 Journals/periodicals listed ?
70 Presentations tracked ? 59 Grants
identified ? 25 Theses/dissertations ? 26
Conference papers ? 31 Reports

• Evidence from NPHS research outcomes shows a wide
  range of knowledge transfer. And it just keeps
  getting better!

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Success Factors?

• Evidence from the life cycle stages of the NPHS
  reveals best practices in facilitating research
  and knowledge transfer
• A dissemination strategy that included public use
  microdata files and a publishing plan (e.g., use
  of Health Reports to publish findings)
• Detailed documentation to assist with the
  secondary use of the data
• Extensive consultations with user communities
• Reassessment of information needs

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The Missing Link

• So, why, in the latest issue of Data Crunch, do
  we have the list of surveys for which a public
  use microdata file will not be produced,
  including
• NPHS Health Institutions, cycle 3
• National Graduate Survey follow-up
• WES?

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The Missing Link

• Waitwe must be missing something.
• We know that data access promotes data use, and
  that dissemination decisions at the outset are
  keyso whats the problem?

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The Missing Link

• Confidentiality and increasing sophistication of
  files?
• Other options provide a back door for elite
  researchers and/or an inexpensive solution
  (Remote Access, RDCs, increased aggregate
  data)?
• Decision to produce PUMFS not always STC
  decision?
• Well let Mike, Mario and Michel help us on this
  onebut what is our role?

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DLI Contacts as PIs

• Findings from DLI Atlantic Training Incentive
  survey
• Teaching and DLI Products
• Individual research papers using wide variety of
  files
• Class assignments focussed on a single file,
  multiple use
• Broad spectrum of DLI products (pumfs for
  secondary analysis, methodology research time
  series aggregate data and databases)

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DLI Contacts as PIs

• Findings from DLI Atlantic Training Incentive
  survey
• Research and DLI Products
• Articles/books
• Grant preparation and major research projects
• Theses and dissertations

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DLI Contacts as PIs

• We know the importance of equal, accessible data
• We see the use
• We can communicate with STC and funding
  departments on value gained by access investment
  

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We CAN All Win!

• It is an enterprise where everyone should get
  prizes!!!!