Thursday July 20, 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University
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Impact Evaluation Course sign ups are now live
In this workshop, we will dig in to when and how to conduct an impact evaluation. By the end, you will be better able to define and answer questions about lasting changes emerging from an initiative (overall, diverging across elements of an initiative, in different contexts and with different groups of people). We will review the fundamental concepts of evaluation and then delve more deeply into impact evaluation questions, discussing various ways to accurately measure impact and considerations specific to this type of evaluation.
Dates: Tuesdays, September 19th, 26th, October 3rd, 17th and 24th
Time: 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Online
$550 (HST included)
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To hear more about what will be covered, check out this Spark Talk by Paul:
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#SparkResearchReplay
As we continue our break from Spark Talks during the summer months (May-Aug), we will feature some of our favourite talks from this year in a weekly social media campaign on Twitter @Spark_McMaster. Join us on Twitter every Friday during the summer for #SparkResearchReplay!
This week, we look back with Shirin Khayambashi, who provides the answers to your questions about “Linguistic Challenges of Fieldwork for First-Generation Ethnic Researchers” in this #SparkResearchReplay. Watch it here.
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2nd Annual Employee Picnic
This year the second occasion of the Annual Employee Picnic is going to take place on August 21st, 11:30am - 1:30pm, at the Green Mall in front of the Burke Science Building.
The BBQ is hosted as a way for the university to say thank you to all the faculty and staff at McMaster. Folding chairs, blankets and lawn games are encouraged. Veg & vegan options are available. The occasion is rain or shine, so make sure to come prepared!
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Resources for Researchers
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Research Conversations
We provide up to 4 hours of free support each year to any researcher (students, staff, faculty or community) on every social research topic imaginable. If we can't help you, we'll help you find someone who can.
Request a research conversation here
Qualtrics Licenses
If you are an Faculty of Social Sciences researcher who would like to request access to Qualtrics survey software, please fill out this form
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.
Methods Demonstrations
Faculty in Social Sciences may request demonstrations, short trainings, or code-along sessions from Spark staff for Research Methods or Professional Skills courses. We're happy to discuss any needs and have already developed trainings for Literature Review, Interviewing, Survey Development, Focus Groups, Data Visualization. Email us at talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca to discuss if there's a fit for your course.
CoLab
Research on research innovation (yes, it's very meta) points to a simple truth. Being in the same physical space and able to informally interact significantly increases cross-disciplinary collaboration and discovery. The Spark CoLab aims to be such a space. It is a free, open co-working space for graduate students, research staff and faculty. You can learn more on our website or stop by from 9 am - Noon or 1 pm - 4pm on Tuesday or Thursday for a tour and orientation.
SEAL
Some data is critical to addressing major research questions, but is also profoundly sensitive and must be secured. SEAL is a high security data repository that allows approved researchers worldwide to access highly sensitive data securely. Data owners can use it to engage researchers in using their datasets and researchers can access data that otherwise would not be available to them.
Learn more about SEAL at: https://seal.mcmaster.ca/
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.
21st Webinar of Computational Social Science Laboratory (CSSL@CUHK)
You’re cordially invited to join the webinar of the Computational Social Science Laboratory (CSSL@CUHK), “Intersection of Causal Inference and Network Analysis”, presented by Dr. Weihua An.
Date & Time:
20 July 2023 (Thursday), 21:15 – 22:45 (EST)
Zoom Link
Research Shop: calling for research questions
Do you work for a community organization looking for research help? Have research needs but don't have time or resources to do it yourself? Get in touch with McMaster Office of Community Engagement - they're seeking projects for the Fall term. Send in your research questions by July 21, 2023. Learn more here.
SSHRC Insight Grants Webinar
SSHRC will organize two webinars for applicants and research administrators to provide information concerning the upcoming IG October 2023 competition via WebEx, including a Q+A session. Advance registration isn't required.
August 17, 2023: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (French)
August 17, 2023: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (English)
Paid decision-making experiments over the spring/summer
The McMaster Decision Science Laboratory (McDSL) is looking for students, staff, faculty and members of the community to participate in paid computerized decision-making studies. We have a number of decision-making studies lined up over the spring and summer semesters and we need your help. Sign up at this link, where you can register by clicking on the “Sign Up” button at the top left. After registering, you will notified by email any time a study becomes available.
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Let's 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 any features you would like us to mention by emailing us at: talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca.
Firstly, a resounding kudos to Ameil J. Joseph, associate professor of social work, for his work as a principal investigator on “Defying systemic racism and hate: Building community solidarity for knowledge sharing, mutual aid and action for the future”, an initiative funded by the Future of Canada Project.
Learn more here.
Let's give a round of applause to Ali Fikirkoca, an international student from Turkey, for being spotlighted as part of McMaster Library's Students of Summer series.
Read the story here.
Cheers to Angela Di Nello (Senior Manager), Matthew Burns (Digital Research Technology Analyst), and Ratika Sharma (Digital Research Systems Analyst) for recently being spotlighted as the Digital Research Commons Pilot's (DRCP) core team. The DRCP is a three-year initiative to build a more connected, capable, and researcher-focused approach to digital research support.
Read the story here.
And hats off to Katie Sonier, who was also spotlighted in McMaster Library's Students of Summer series, for her work as a research assistant with the DRCP.
Read the story here.
Finally, let's go ahead and acknowledge McMaster University itself, for climbing 22 positions to the No. 3 spot in Forbes' annual rankings of organizations that excel in creating diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces.
Read the story here.
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