Thursday August 3, 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University
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APPLY NOW - Brighter Spark is Hiring: Social Research Apprenticeships
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RA III, Job ID #INT143
We are hiring for three (3) positions:
- Two positions will require a background in statistics, data cleaning and experience with administrative data and statistical software (e.g., Stata, R).
- One position will require a background in social work, community engagement, and qualitative research.
All three positions will become part of an applied research team working for local and national not for profits. Those with lived experience of accessing social services particularly encouraged to apply. Doctoral students preferred though advanced undergrads and masters students will be considered.
These positions are for exceptional students with a keen interest in social research. Students are integral members of Spark Team, so these are substantive work experiences.
Ready to apply?
If you’re a McMaster University student, you can apply for each position either through a standard process, or, if eligible, the Work Program. Either way, visit McMaster Mosaic, click on Career Opportunities, then either Student Work Program, and search keyword "Spark" OR your desired job's specific ID.
For all external applicants, you can find open postings through Career Opportunities 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've been featuring 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 take a look back at a special #SparkResearchReplay session by Paul Bakker titled “Introduction to Impact Evaluation” - yes, the same Paul Bakker who will be teaching the Impact Evaluation Course at Spark this Fall! You can watch the replay video 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.
McMaster University RDM Services is hiring
McMaster University RDM Services is hiring a Research Data Management Specialist - Temporary from Sep 25, 2023 to Mar 1, 2024. This role is 35 hours per week, with a salary range of $28.72 - $36.81/hour. This position can be done either hybrid or remotely if the employee lives in the Province of Ontario.
The successful candidate will work closely with other members of RDM Services to promote RDM best practices, deliver RDM training and workshops, develop resources and training materials, consult with researchers, curate datasets, and provide guidance on RDM.
Learn more here.
Looking Ahead: Request a Class Visit from SCDS
McMaster educators: did you know that Sherman Centre staff can visit your classroom, give guest lectures, deliver tech demos, and provide access to software?
If you're interested in bringing digital tools into your next class, SCDS is here to help. Learn more about the many collaborative possibilities available with this short video.
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 Gayathri Krishna, Judy Fudge, and Kaitlyn Matulewicz for their incisive and insightful study being published in The Conversation Canada. Titled “Learning from Lululemon: If Canada wants to get serious about forced labour, disclosure laws won’t do,” the piece examines the ability of Canada’s new Modern Slavery Act to tackle labour abuse.
Read the story here.
A loud shout-out to Dr. Stephanie Ross for her appearance on The Big Story podcast, revealing to the pod that record-high corporate profits and inflation may be fuelling labour action in Canada.
Read the story here.
Let's give a round of applause to the ten undergraduate and graduate students who were selected to join the Wilson Leadership Scholar Award (WLSA), an intensive leadership development program that comes with an award of up to $14,000.
Read more here.
Let's hear it for the McMaster Indigenous Research Institute (MIRI). Thanks to them, ten early scholars from across Canada got the chance to experience hands-on graduate-level research at McMaster thanks to an intensive research training program hosted by the Institute.
Read the story here.
And hats off to the Indigenous Studies Department for being mentioned in the news for their new course offering: Two Row on the Grand will be offered in Summer 2024 as a course offering through Indigenous Studies and the Department of Social Work, taught by Dr. Bonnie Freeman.
Read the story here.
And lastly, kudos to Jenna Owen, who was recently featured in McMaster Library's brilliant Students of Summer series. Owen is entering her fourth year of health and society with a specialization in mental health and addiction, and has worked as a student assistant at Thode library since September 2021.
Read the story here.
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