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The Research Data Centre Programme in Canada: a holistic approach to evidence‐based research to inform public policy
Author(s) -
Goldmann Gustave
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
international social science journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.237
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1468-2451
pISSN - 0020-8701
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-2451.2003.05503006.x
Subject(s) - confidentiality , social research , data archive , social security , library science , sociology , political science , public administration , public relations , computer science , social science , law , database
As part of a response to the challenges that confront Canadian policy research, a joint task force assembled by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Statistics Canada proposed the creation of a series of Research Data Centres (RDCs). The network of RDCs was formally launched in December 2000 with the opening of the centre at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. The RDCs are located throughout the country, so researchers are not obliged to travel to Ottawa to access Statistics Canada data. At the same time, the centres are administered in accordance with all the confidentiality rules required under the Statistics Act . The Research Data Centres meet, in a single location, both the need to facilitate access to detailed micro‐data for crucial social research and the need to protect the confidentiality and security of Canadians' information.