Prospective researchers must submit a research proposal that will be reviewed and
approved by a committee whose judgment is based upon the availability of RDC resources,
consistency with the mission of NCHS, general scientific soundness, and the feasibility of the project. It is expected
that the user will develop the research proposal with the RDC staff to minimize the time
required. Although researchers will sign confidentiality agreements, strict
confidentiality protocols require that researchers with approved projects must complete
their work using the facilities located within the RDC. Researchers can supply their own
data to be merged with NCHS data sets. Completed by the RDC staff, the merged files will
be only available to the originating researcher unless written permission is given to
allow access to others.
Two access methods are
available for researchers to accomplish their tasks: Onsite and remote.
Onsite researchers have
the ability to use the full capabilities of the SAS system with the only caveat being a
disclosure review. However, major restrictions limit the analysis capabilities of the
remote access system. Totally scanned and screened, printed output using SAS procedures
and functions adhere to strict minimal disclosure limits and are suppressed if the
minimums are not met.
Another analysis option
for researchers with large, complex analytic projects may be to subcontract with the NCHS
RDC to perform the tasks necessary for the research project.
Regardless of the option
chosen, each has an associated cost that includes capital and labor expenses involved in
setting up and monitoring each project. Cost estimations both in terms of time and money,
can only be as accurate as the degree of specificity of the research. Again, with the help
of the staff of the RDC at an early stage, the estimates should reasonably approximate
reality.
Details
Research Proposal
Suggest to make a trip early in the application
process to RDC
Best to develop in conjunction with RDC staff
Portions of doctoral proposals or grant
applications may suffice
Detailed summary of proposed research including
why publicly available data are not sufficient
Full personal and institutional affiliation
required
Dates of proposed visits to the RDC
An estimation of the total hours expected to be
working in the RDC
Specific NCHS data requested including year or
years and variables
Details of the user-supplied data to be merged
with NCHS data
Software requirements including language - SAS
for Windows and Stata are available
Required to sign Agreement Regarding Conditions
of Access to Confidential Data in the Research Data Center of the National Center for
Health Statistics
Required to sign the Researcher Affidavit of
Confidentiality
Acceptability based on availability of RDC
resources, consistency with the NCHS mission, and the feasibility of the project
Operations
Guest Researcher (on site)
RDC staff constructs necessary
data files including merged user data
PC SAS, SUDAAN, STATA, FORTRAN and HLM available
Other statistical packages available with
sufficient lead time
Output subject to disclosure review
Disclosure review guidelines published in NCHS
Staff Manual on Confidentiality
Analyses (paper output) passing disclosure
review can be taken off site
Center requires staff oversight
Only open during normal working hours
Remote Access
RDC staff constructs necessary data files
including merged user data
Ability to submit analytical computer programs
via e-mail
Output returned by e-mail to users
registered address
SAS programs only, certain procedures and
functions not allowed
PROC TABULATE and PROC IML not allowed
LIST and PRINT not allowed - no listing of
individual cases
R_, FIRST., LAST., not allowed - no selection of
individual cases
No cell fewer than five observations; if found,
other cells also supressed
Job log scanned for conditions that spawn case
listings
Manual disclosure limitation review where
necessary
Staff Programming
Subcontract with the RDC staff to perform
programming tasks
Specifications from researcher with input from
RDC staff
Costs
Estimated for each research project
Includes equipment and space rental, staff
overhead and setup
Knowledge of research necessary to estimate
costs
Specific
costs:
On site researcher cost
$1,000 per week
Remote access
for National Survey of Family Growth contextual data files $500 per year
Remote access
for any one data set $500 per month
File
construction and setup $500 per day of effort
RDC Facilities
Multiple workstations
High speed Pentium computers
All have
Windows 95
All have SAS for Windows
No removable media
Secured printer
Server for RDC private network
Data
NCHS Data
Matched
Twins File
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