Microdata Methods and Practice

supported by the EU 6th Research Framework and Marie Curie Research Training Actions

Training

The training programme of the Network has three components.

1. Participation by trainees in the research programme of the Network, learning by example through close collaboration with experienced world-class researchers.
2. Longer doctoral programme courses.
3. Short courses, master-classes, workshops, international conferences/seminars and network meetings.

The Network collaboration will enable its trainees to choose from a wide variety of training that is offered by the different nodes. The trainee will be able to attend training courses offered by any member of the Network, and will be able to engage in research at the various nodes of the Network. The Network will organise regular conferences where exchanges of ideas between trainees and established researchers from all nodes will take place.

The training needs of early-stage and experienced researchers differ. Early-stage researchers need and will get more direct supervision by a senior researcher at the node where the trainee is appointed. An early-stage researcher will be enrolled in the doctoral programme of the university associated with the node, and will take the university doctoral courses, normally lasting about 12 weeks per course. The Network will make it possible for an early-stage researcher to participate in the doctoral courses on offer at the other nodes, visiting the other institution on a short term secondment. These choices will be discussed and agreed by the trainee and the supervisor and laid down in a Career Development Plan.

An experienced researcher may also take doctoral courses at any of the institutions of the Network if that is deemed necessary to enhance skills. Both early-stage and experienced researchers will acquire additional training and knowledge through the specific training events organised by the nodes. These events will include short courses, master classes, workshops, conferences and the Network meetings described now.

The Short Course programme is designed to enhance methodological skills and give understanding of the ways in which microdata methods can be used to inform policy making and evaluation. The courses aim to develop understanding of methods, issues and current practice in a variety of areas, and to equip participants with the relevant practical computational and data handling skills. A typical course will span 2-3 days, with extensive computer laboratory work preceded by expository lectures. The courses will focus on development of understanding of the various issues and techniques. By linking the lectures directly to data driven applications, the participants will enhance their understanding of the material directly, increasing their data handling and estimation skills, with primary focus on interpretation of results.

The Master Class series of the Microdata Network aims to provide trainees with authoritative accounts of research methods and practice in rapidly developing areas. They give access to the highest quality expositions of new and recent theoretical results, information about their application to substantive social science research questions, and experience of working with the methods covered by the classes. A typical Master Class will span 2-3 days, contain expository lectures from the invited speaker and, where appropriate, practical experience of applying the methods. Participants will be invited to make presentations of their own work and will benefit from the ensuing formal and informal discussion. Master classes will be delivered by experts of leading international standing.

The Workshops and Conferences of the Microdata Network will provide trainees with regular access to a forum at which current microdata research methods and practice are presented and discussed. The workshops and conferences will (a) aid dissemination of information about developments in research methods and practice, (b) give researchers the benefit of discussion of their work, (c) stimulate development of new research methods and novel applications, (d) increase networking amongst researchers at all levels. Early-stage and experienced researchers will be able to present their own research at these workshops and conferences, obtaining vital feedback from the senior researchers of the Network.

At the Network meetings the early-stage and experienced researchers will report on their research progress and present their work to each other and the senior researchers of the Network. The network meetings will be combined with training events. These events will include master class type presentations by senior visiting researchers, but also training events for developing more general skills for further career development, like how to manage a research project and how to present research outcomes to academic and lay audiences. The young researchers will actively participate in the Network meetings and strongly encouraged to develop joint projects and comment on each other's work. Their views will be sought for topics to be considered for discussion/presentation at the Network meetings, and they will be asked to organise sessions at the meetings.