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This is an e-newsletter published by Spark: a centre for social research innovation and is available for subscription via email distribution or on the Spark website. If you would like to subscribe, send an email to talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca . If your email address is changing or you would like to unsubscribe, please let us know.

1st Annual Open House

Hello Spark!
On January 25th, 2021 Spark kicked off the new year with our first annual open house, re-introducing the centre that was CRESS to Mac and the Hamilton community with our new name, website and range of services. So goodbye CRESS, and hello Spark.

The open house featured 20 mini-workshops highlighting some of the issues we focus on and a rousing game of drag queen bingo. Thank you to everyone who supported the event.

Missed it? Many of the workshops are now available on our website: https://spark.mcmaster.ca/events - scroll to the bottom.

Events

February 19th Off for Reading Week

February 26th 10:30-11:20

Productivity during Pandemic Series - random nuggets of research insight
Tom Vargas - How People’s Experience with Local Government Can Hamstring National Governments in Times of Pandemic

March 5th 10:30-12:00

Relevant Research Series - making research relevant to policy and practice
Juan Velasco - Design Principles for Data Visualization, Session 1 of 2.

March 12th 10:30-12:00

Relevant Research Series - making research relevant to policy and practice
Juan Velasco - Design Principles for Data Visualization, Session 2 of 2.

Learn more and register at: https://spark.mcmaster.ca/events

In case you missed it:

Watch the video from our session Better Interviews: Tips for Listening with Allison Van at https://bit.ly/3qlY1XO

Listen to Camilla Caro discuss the use of gaming as a coping strategy when things get tough at https://bit.ly/3adVlpp

Tyler Girard speaks about how to empirically measure changes in global norms with a focus on shifting perspectives on LGBTQIA+ populations at https://bit.ly/3dcfvCa

Resources for Researchers

Qualtrics Licenses

If you are an FSS researcher who would like to request access to Qualtrics survey software, please fill out this form:
https://forms.gle/Gn2KvYgdebjo8d2W8.

FSS will prioritize researchers with survey designs that do not work as well in Limesurvey. For a whirlwind tour of Qualtrics features, check out this video from our open house: https://bit.ly/3pih8Rl

Research Conversations

If you are stuck or looking for new ideas, thoughts, or technologies for your research, reach out. Spark exists to support your work. We provide up to 4 hours of free support to all McMaster researchers on every topic imaginable.

Examples of recent topics:
Online display options for ephemera
Making graphs simpler for public consumption
Which software to use for qualitative coding
Secure data storage
Ethics applications
Feeling paralyzed about moving forward

Whatever you're addressing in your research, we will work with you to work it out, or find the person who can.

Request a research consultation at https://forms.gle/7FciqxCtK5fN6AD97 and we will set up a time to talk.

Brighter Spark Applied Research

For researchers and community leaders, Spark offers custom research and evaluation, as well as highly skilled assistance in implementing virtually any research method. Our cost-recovery services include methods and software training, custom research, state of the art facilities, and taking on elements of your project to support its completion.

Examples of recent project proposals:
Data wrangling, data set linkage, and secure storage
Training research assistants for inter-rater reliability in interviews
Train a community researcher in basic survey analysis
Use our focus group and interview rooms for a study
Build a website to promote our research

For a full list of Brighter Spark Applied Research's services, visit: https://spark.mcmaster.ca/brighter-spark

Spark Collaboration

Help us profile your research, publications, job ads, opportunities, and upcoming events by sending them to: talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca to be showcased in our next newsletter.

Contact Us

Spark: a centre for social research innovation

Website: https://spark.mcmaster.ca/
Email: talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca
Subscribe to Spark Connections: https://spark.mcmaster.ca/contactus/