January 20th, 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University
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Happy 1 year Anniversary to Spark!
On January 25th 2021 we re-launched as Spark: a centre for social research innovation (previously CRESS). What a year it has been! As we look back, we are so proud of everything that we have accomplished and are excited for all that is yet to come. Thank you to McMaster and all of the researchers, students, staff, faculty and community partners who have made this such a successful year for Spark. Join us in celebrating this milestone!
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Spark Events Winter Schedule Available:
Spark has an exciting lineup of SparkTalks, Workshops and Identity in Research seminars this semester. Check out the full schedule below under "upcoming events" to get excited, save the dates, and register for those which *spark* your interest. Can't make a seminar? No problem, Spark records and uploads all seminars to our macvideo page 1 week after the scheduled seminar. Re-watch or catchup here.
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Interviewing to Measure Impact Workshop:
Date: Tuesday February 22- Friday February 25th 2022
Time: 9am – 12pm ET
Led by: Allison Van
Cost: $250 (Faculty, Staff and Community Members), $150 (Students)
Those who implement programs and policies want to know how they are impacting the intended recipients. But measuring impact is never easy. And it is particularly challenging when people have complex lives and exist in vulnerable conditions. This workshop will teach an approach to interviewing that allows for precise pre- and post- measures while being trauma-informed, conversational, and safe for participants.
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Join Spark on Fridays at 10:30-11:20am for a weekly "Spark Talk" focused on methods and tools of social research. Spark Talks features an innovative speaker and encourages unexpected and inter-disciplinary connections between researchers, including faculty and graduate students. Learn more about upcoming Spark events at spark.mcmaster.ca/events
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Spark Events - Winter Schedule 2022
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January 21st 10:30- 11:20 am ET
Addressing Sensitivity Bias on Surveys
Dr. Matthew Nanes
Register here
*Virtual Event*
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January 28th 10:30- 11:20 am ET
Conducting Cognitive Interviewing Offline and Online
Dr. Cornelia Neuert
Register here
*Virtual Event*
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Feb 4th 10:30- 11:20 am ET
The Future of Machine Learning is Qualitative
Dr. Laura Nelson
Register here
*Virtual Event*
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Feb 11th 10:30- 11:20 am ET
Saving Lives with Better Sound
Dr. Michael Schultz
Register here
*Virtual Event*
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Feb 18th 9:30am - 12pm and 1pm-4pm ET
Identity in Research - Quantifying Individual Identities
Dr. Mosi Adesina Ifatunji
Register here:
*Virtual Event*
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Feb 22nd - 25th 9am - 12pm ET
Interviewing to Measure Impact - 4 day Workshop
Allison Van
Registration Coming Soon
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March 4th 10:30-11:20 am ET
A Win or a Flop? Measuring Mass Protest Successfulness in Authoritarian Settings
Dr. Kimberly Noel Turner
Register here
*Virtual Event*
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March 11th 10:30-11:20 am ET
The Trump Election and Attitudes Towards the US in Latin America
Dr. Giancario Visconti & Dr. Regina Bateson
Register: here
*Virtual Event*
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April 1st 10:30-11:20 am ET
A White Researcher in South Africa: Reflections on Positionality
Dr. Holmes
Register: here
*Virtual Event*
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April 8th 9am- 12pm and 1pm-4pm ET
Identity in Research : Arts-Based Approaches to Exploring Identity
Dr. Carla Rice
Registration Coming Soon
*In-Person Event*
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In case you missed it:
The Social Autopsy
Stefan Timmermans
Check it out here:
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Resources for Researchers
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Looking to pool software licences?
Now you can! Fill out this form and we will reach out if we can match you with others looking to pool licences.
We are also attempting a pilot in fall term allowing for virtual desktop access to several licenses for major Qualitative Data Analysis software, and will be seeking volunteers to test out the viability of this option. FSS faculty, please email talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca if you're interested in participating.
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Research Conversations
We provide up to 4 hours of free support each year to all McMaster researchers (students, staff and faculty) on every social research topic imaginable. If we can't help you, we'll help you find someone who can.
Qualtrics Licences
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.
Brighter Spark Applied Research
Spark offers custom research and evaluation, as well as highly skilled assistance in implementing virtually any social 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.
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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 following newsletter.
Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging/ Health Aging and Society Co-Sponsored Seminar
"At the limits of care: How women negotiate moral, gendered responsibilities in our aging society"
Dr. Janna Klostermann
February 1st 2022 at 2:30-3:30pm ET
Register here: https://bit.ly/3fglNAz
Research Impact Canada (RIC) Award Launched
Research Impact Canada (RIC), a network of research institutions dedicated to maximizing the impact of research in society, has launched the 2021-2022 edition of the RIC Engaged Scholarship Award for Graduate Students. Award recipients will earn a cash prize of $2000 (for MA students and recent MA graduates) or $3000 (for Ph.D. students and recent Ph.D. graduates), in addition to several opportunities to share their engaged research projects.
Online Information Session: January 27th 2022 at 1pm EST Register here
The deadline for applications, which should be submitted online at forms.researchimpact.ca, by February 28th 2022, at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Student admissions OPEN for 2022-2023 MPP-DS Program
The Master of Public Policy in a Digital Society is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 offering (starting May 2022). MPP-DS is a 12-month professional graduate program that trains future policy leaders to navigate the rapidly changing technological landscape by bridging public policy thinking with technical expertise.
Application Deadline: February 24th, 2022
For more information and to apply visit: https://socialsciences.mcmaster.ca/master-of-public-policy
Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship Workshop
"Best practices for managing data in your research"
January 26th 2022 at 2:30-3:30pm
This intro workshop will help you learn about research data management best practices and how organizing your data now can save you a lot of time and prevent future headaches.
Register here: https://libcal.mcmaster.ca/event/3651178
After the success of last terms workshops, the Sherman Centre is delighted to host 10+ sessions in Winter 2022. There is something for everyone (data visualization, StoryMaps software, two workshops on Microsoft Excel, and more). See the full event lineup and register here
Mapping the Global Dimensions of Policy Conference
The Department of Political Science at McMaster, in conjunction with the Canadian Research Chair in Public Policy and Globalization, Institute for Globalization and the Human Condition, and the School of Earth, Environment and Society are excited to present "Mapping the global dimension of policy 11- Multiple crises: Recovery, reform, transformation. This conference brings together graduate students whose research speaks to the questions raised in the fields of globalization and policy studies.
Conference dates: March 11-12th 2022.
For full conference details visit: https://bit.ly/3qiJ1N3
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In this new section, we want to celebrate the achievements of colleagues, friends, and those doing important social research with the potential to spark a brighter world. We welcome recommendations for kudos features (including for yourself). Please send them to: talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca.
Kudos to Robert Innes (Political Science and Indigenous Studies) for the feature in the CBC article "With few who speak up, Indigenous male victims of domestic violence left out of the conversation". Robert raises that "research into violence against Indigenous men by Indigenous women is limited"
Read the full article in The CBC here
Congrats to The Master of Public Policy in Digital Society (MPP-DS) Graduate Students for their contribution of research to the "Regulatory Capture Lab". This initiative begins to interrogate the concept of "capture" as it pertains to government expertise and the policy interests of the largest technology companies.
Read more about the "Regulatory Capture Lab" in The Toronto Star Article "Canada is sleepwalking into bed with Big Tech, as politicos float between firms and public office" here
Congratulations to Creighton Avery (PhD Candidate, Anthropology) who authored an article in The Conversation titled "Analysis: Bones and teeth help reveal whether teenagers have always been a source of worry for their parts".
Read the full article in The Conversation here
Shout out to Tyler Murchie (Post-Doc Researcher, Anthropology) for the feature in the Live Science article "Woolly mammoths survived on mainland North America until 5,000 years ago, DNA reveals" Kudos to Tyler and the McMaster Anthropology Researchers who are analyzing DNA fragments in soil samples taken from the permafrost in central Yukon.
Read the full Live Science article here
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