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Announcements, events, and other news from Spark

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June 20th 2024

Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University

Centre News

Meet the Spark Talks Speakers: Insights into the 2024-25 Lineup

As we prepare for another exciting academic year, Spark: A Centre for Social Research Innovation is thrilled to announce the lineup for the 2024-25 Spark Talks series. This semester, we bring together thought leaders from diverse fields to share cutting-edge insights into research methodologies and contemporary social issues. Here’s a glimpse of some of the upcoming speakers and their thought-provoking talks that promise to enrich our academic community and the research field.

September 20th: “Presidential Policymaking, 1877–2020” by Aaron Kaufman

What can US presidents actually do, and how much do they do it? Aaron Kaufman from NYU introduces a new dataset of more than 100,000 acts of policymaking that presidents have taken on their own, without Congressional approval. Using computational text analysis, Kaufman builds a new understanding of presidential power.

This talk offers invaluable insights into the dynamics of US political power, providing researchers with a comprehensive dataset that can be used for further analysis and comparative studies. Kaufman’s approach demonstrates the power of computational text analysis in political science, showcasing its potential to uncover patterns and trends in policymaking. This is particularly relevant for scholars interested in the intersection of technology and politics, as it highlights innovative methods to analyze large datasets and derive meaningful conclusions.

Register Here

September 27th: “The Bothur: Generative AI in Scholarly Publishing” by Brady Lund

Brady Lund from the University of North Texas will discuss the impacts—both positive and negative—of generative artificial intelligence in scholarly publishing. This presentation explores how AI tools like ChatGPT are used by researchers, the ethical considerations involved, and the implications for peer reviewing and editing scholarly manuscripts.

Lund’s talk addresses a pivotal issue in contemporary research—how AI is transforming scholarly publishing. By examining the ethical and practical implications of generative AI, this talk is crucial for researchers across all disciplines. It provides a balanced view of the benefits and challenges of using AI in academic work, encouraging ethical use and consideration of these powerful tools. Researchers, editors, and reviewers will gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate the evolving landscape of AI in academia, ensuring integrity and innovation in their work.

Register Here

October 4th: “Making Mass Foreclosure: An Extreme Case Analysis” by Walker Nelson Kahn

Walker Nelson Kahn from the University of Wisconsin delves into the mortgage foreclosure process, examining how it evolved with the financialization of US society. Through process tracing and mixed methods analysis, Kahn's research explores how court systems managed conflicts between the demands of the mortgage industry and legal procedures, and the impact on homeowners.

Kahn’s talk offers a critical examination of the intersection between finance, law, and social equity. By applying mixed methods analysis to a real-world issue, this research provides a comprehensive view of the systemic factors contributing to mass foreclosure. It is particularly relevant for researchers in social sciences, economics, and law, as it highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in understanding complex societal issues. Kahn’s findings can inform policy-making, legal reforms, and advocacy efforts aimed at protecting vulnerable populations and promoting social justice.

Register Here

Join the Conversation

These sessions are designed to engage graduates, PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty across social sciences and humanities. We encourage you to join us for these intellectually invigorating discussions that provide an unparalleled platform for academic dialogue and interdisciplinary exploration. For more details and to register for these talks, visit our Spark Talks page.

Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of these dynamic discussions. Register now and stay connected with the forefront of social research methods. As well, if you feel you or someone you know is a shoe-in for this kind of talk, follow the link below to nominate them. And finally, stay tuned for more updates and profiles of our upcoming speakers in future newsletters.

Let’s make the 2024-25 Spark Talks series the most engaging and insightful yet!

Nominate A Speaker

Join Our Team and Make a Difference in Juvenile Detention Centres

We are excited to announce a unique opportunity for someone with lived experience of incarceration to join Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. We are currently seeking a passionate and dedicated individual for a part-time Research Assistant III position. This role is integral to our ongoing project aimed at expanding activities and programming in juvenile detention centres.

Why This Role Matters

At Spark, we believe in the power of innovative research and community engagement to drive meaningful change. Our consulting firm, a part of Spark, conducts applied research, organizational change, and evaluation for non-profits, government, and industry. This project, in particular, focuses on engaging youth in detention centres with activities that address critical issues such as trauma, shame, poverty, and mental health. By bringing your lived experience and passion to this role, you can help shape and implement programs that make a real difference in the lives of these young individuals.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone to provide day-to-day leadership for this project. While research skills are valuable, the most important qualities are a passion for this work and the ability to understand the broader context, working systematically and respectfully with all parties within the system. Given the nature of the project, we highly value candidates with lived experience of incarceration to bring essential perspectives to our team.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead the juvenile detention centres project on a day-to-day basis.

Develop and implement activities and programs that engage youth.

Collaborate with detention centre leadership to gain access and support.

Work systematically and respectfully with all stakeholders.

Qualifications:

Lived experience of incarceration is a requirement.

Passion for working with youth and addressing issues like trauma and mental health.

Ability to understand the broader context and work systematically.

Research skills are a plus but not essential.

Travel to detention centres in the region is required.

Preferred Qualifications (Not Essential):

Post-secondary degree.

Six months experience in a research environment.

Position Details:

Hours: Part-time (15 hours per week)

Salary: $25 per hour

Location: McMaster University, Central Campus

How to Apply:

We invite interested candidates to visit our careers site and complete the application process. Follow these steps:

Click here to access our careers site.

Sign in to access your account, or select the New User link to create one.

Review the job description and select the Apply button to begin your application.

Current Employees:

If you are a current employee of our organization, please use this link to apply.

Get in Touch:

We are excited to hear from individuals who are passionate about making a difference. If you or a potential applicant would like to discuss the position or our work further, please reach out to us here.

Join us in this meaningful work and help create positive change in our community. Apply today and be a part of the Spark team!

Resources for Researchers

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 contact us here.

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 [email-masked] 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.

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

Spark Collaborations

Help us profile your research, publications, job ads, opportunities, and upcoming events by sending them to: [email-masked] to be showcased in our following newsletter.

Innovative Resources for Art and Research Collaboration

Dr. Cathy Paton and Alexe Bernier have developed a Data Management Plan Template aimed at fostering collaboration at the intersection of art and research. This template is designed for diverse stakeholders, including artists, researchers, participants, social service workers, community organizers, and workers. Crafted in plain language, it promotes accessibility and understanding, framing the process as a conversation to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration.

Additional tools developed include:

Art & Research Partnership Agreement Template

Artist Roles in Art and Research Projects

Ethical Guidelines for Art and Research Projects

Calls for Participation

As part of the Putting the Public in Public Art: Artist-led Consultation project, there are two open calls:

Call for Artists: Express your interest in creating a public project and working with a research integration consultant.

Call for MA or PhD Students: Participate in a CRP internship program to support the project.

Don't miss these opportunities to engage in groundbreaking work at the intersection of art and research!

Statistics Canada: Workshops

Statistics Canada is delighted to invite you to our upcoming workshops. Please note: Advanced registration is required. We ask that you please register early, spaces are limited for the workshops.

How to Use Census Data

Description: Conducted every five years, the Census of Population is the most comprehensive source of data on the demographic, social and economic characteristics of Canadians. The Census workshop is designed for those new to working with Census data or those who want to further develop their abilities in regards to working with Census concepts, methodology, geography and analysis. The workshop material will explore the depth and breadth of data available and enhance participants’ ability to use the 2021 Census resources effectively.

During this workshop, you will:

Review methodology and questionnaire content

Explore Census Geographies

Understand Census concepts and variables

Learn how to use Census Program website tools

Learn how to find and use Census data on the Statistics Canada website

This online workshop will be delivered over a two-day period.

Intended Target Audience: This is an introductory workshop; it may be too basic for advanced data users.

Registration Information: English and French workshop dates are available from May to July. For more information and to register for a session, please go to this link.

Cost: $325 per learner

Turning Statistics into Stories

Description: Stories resonate with audiences while numbers alone may overwhelm.  Join us for an introductory workshop that will help you to communicate the messages emerging from your data in a more effective manner.  During this workshop, you will focus on your target audience, use statistics to present your story and put numbers into a context to help your audience understand your messages. Along the way you will learn some useful tips on how to use tables and graphs to illustrate your story.

Emphasis is placed on the following considerations:

What is a Data Story?

Constructing a Data Story – Audience and Context

Elements of a Data Story

Packaging the Data Story - Putting the Elements Together

Bringing it all Together

Throughout the workshop these considerations are practiced and applied using examples from Statistics Canada.

Intended Target Audience: This is an introductory workshop; it may be too basic for advanced data users.

Registration Information: English and French workshop dates are available from June to July. For more information and to register for a session, please go to this link.

Cost: $325 per learner

Kudos

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: [email-masked].

First, a big kudos to Ph.D. Candidate Alysha McDonald, who is making strides in her research on reintegration and service provision. Partnering with the John Howard Society of Ontario and Mitacs Accelerate, her project, "The Revolving Door of Reintegration: Understanding the Experiences and Challenges of Previously Incarcerated People in Ontario," delves into the lived experiences of individuals transitioning from incarceration to community life. This important work focuses on the role of service providers and support networks during reintegration, aiming to shed light on the challenges and opportunities in this critical phase. Learn more about her project here.

Next, we'd like to acknowledge Professor Jeffrey Racine from the Department of Economics, who has published two new working papers in econometrics and statistics: Bootstrap Inference on a Factor Model Based Average Treatment Effects Estimator, co-authored with Luya Wang (Stanford) and Qiaoyu Wang (Capital University), this paper introduces a novel bootstrap procedure for better inference in small sample settings; Locally Adaptive Online Functional Data Analysis In collaboration with Valentin Patilea (ENSAI), this paper develops adaptive estimators for streaming data, enhancing online functional data analysis.

Read more about both here.

Congratulations to Andrew Leal for winning the Winter 2024 TA Award! Recognized for his exceptional dedication, Andrew went above and beyond for his ECON 762 students, extending office hours and tutorials to ensure thorough understanding of the course material. His approachable nature and insightful teaching methods have made a significant impact on his students' learning experience. Join us in celebrating Andrew's well-deserved achievement. Read the full article here.

Here's a shout out to Dr. Melanie Heath, co-recipient of the 2024 Section on Sexualities Distinguished Book Award for her work on Forbidden Intimacies: Polygamy and the Limits of Western Tolerance. Learn more about Dr. Heath's groundbreaking research by visiting her profile here.

Read up on Dr. Anne-Marie Livingstone’s insightful analysis of the newly-designed Montreal Police badge. Dr. Livingstone, a sociology professor at McMaster University, shares her thoughts on how the new logo addresses the thin blue line controversy without committing to meaningful change. Get the full story here. Join us in acknowledging her valuable contribution to the discussion on racism in policing.

And finally, congratulations to Dr. Geraldina Polanco, recipient of the 2024 Faculty of Social Sciences Scholar in the Community Award! This prestigious award recognizes and supports social science research collaborations with international community organizations. Learn more about Dr. Polanco's impactful work by visiting her profile here. Join us in celebrating her remarkable achievement!

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