Statistics Canada Research Data Centre at McMaster

The McMaster Research Data Centre is one of nine centres that provides access to Statistics Canada master survey files at no charge to researchers. We encourage you to make application to work at the Centre, and would be pleased to help in any way we can.

Since the Centre houses confidential data it is a secure site; permission to access the facility is granted only to researchers who have applied and whose work requires use of the master files. The application procedure is described below. Proposals are submitted through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council but you should be aware that projects that have already gone through a peer-review process (e.g., a project that has SSHRC or other funding) requires no further peer review--only a determination by Statistics Canada that available survey files will support the proposed research and that the project needs access to master files (that is, could not be done with public use files).

Each Research Data Centre (RDC) employs an RDC Analyst who would be happy to advise you during the preparation of your proposal. The Analyst can assess your proposal to determine whether the required elements are present. The Analyst can also advise whether your project is appropriate for access to the detailed micro data. Also, the RDC Analyst can provide you with information about conducting research in the RDC environment and the data holdings of the RDC.

Please contact your local RDC Analyst for more information: rdc@mcmaster.ca

Proposals should be submitted through the SSHRC web site application process: SSHRC/StatCan

Proposal outline (2 to 5 pages):

• Name and affiliation of principal investigator
• Names and affiliations of other researchers associated with the proposal (if any)
• Project title
• A concise statement of objectives including a statement of the research question or questions and an indication of how the proposed research will advance understanding in the area of interest
• A statement of the proposed statistical/research methodology, including software requirements
• An explanation of why access to the confidential data (as opposed to public use micro-data files) is necessary, which survey file or files are to be used, and a statement that the confidential data files(s) identified is (are) in fact suitable for the proposed research
• An indication of the preferred date on which work on the project would start, and its intended date of completion
• The Research Data Centre at which work would be done
• Curriculum vitae for each member of the research team (Note: this is not included in the page limit noted above.)
• Name of funding source(s).

Security Checks:
Researchers with accepted proposals to access Statistics Canada data in the Research Data Centre are required to submit a Personal Screening Request and Authorization and possibly a Declaration Regarding Criminal Convictions. The following instructions will guide you through this process.

• Should I submit the form(s)?

  Only researchers with approved projects and who will be directly accessing data in the Research Data Centre need complete these forms. Researchers have the option of submitting the form(s) in advance of their project approval or upon confirmation of project approval.

• Why do I need to complete the form(s)?

  All deemed employees of Statistics Canada submit a Personal Screening Request and Authorization form and possibly a Declaration Regarding Criminal Convictions.

• Which form do I complete?

  You will notice that there are two forms available for this purpose. If you are a Canadian citizen, then you complete the Personal Screening Request and Authorization form. If you are a not a Canadian citizen, then you complete the Declaration Regarding Criminal Convictions form and the Personal Screening Request and Authorization form.

• How do I complete the Personal Screening Request and Authorization form?

  Instructions are included with the form.

• How do I complete the Declaration Regarding Criminal Convictions Form?

  On a printed copy of the form, starting in the top left hand corner, please complete or check the following boxes:

  • fill in your surname, full given names.
  • check yes or no for 'Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence for which you have not been granted a pardon?'
  • If yes, fill in the space if you wish to comment.
  • Do not sign your name under Signature of Individual until you have brought the form into the RDC.

• Where do I send the form(s)?

  Completed forms should be delivered in person to the Research Data Centre. Please bring photo identification.

  Mills Memorial Library, Room 217
  McMaster University
  1280 Main St W
  Hamilton ON L8S 4L6
  

  To protect your confidential information, these forms should not be faxed or submitted electronically via email.

• How long does the process take?

  The process of verifying the information and granting enhanced reliability status usually takes 24 hours from the time the form is received in Ottawa. Of course, this presumes that a unique match can be found on your name and that there are no reasons to deny security clearance.

• What happens if the initial security clearance is not conclusive?

  If the initial screening does not result in a unique match based on the information that you provided, you will be asked to submit finger prints to Statistics Canada. They may be obtained from any police station. Once again, the finger prints must be sent to the same address to which you sent the original clearance request.