The purpose of the course projects, which are open research projects, is to let you put together the data analysis methods we have learned in class, and obtain a comprehensive and profound understanding of them.
The following is a list of potential topics and data repositories for the course projects you may want to choose from. I only give rough descriptions of the topics, but leaving spaces for your imagination, as they are open-ended research projects. You are also encouraged to use your own research datasets. I hope to see many different course projects. So, be creative.
To facilitate collaborative learning, group projects are encouraged. Each group should have no more than 3 students.
1. Your Talks
Your proposal: Each group will lead a 5-minute discussion in class on your course project proposal (Feb 21, 2018).
a. Description of the problem and hypotheses; b. Description of the dataset;
c. Analysis plan;
d. Comments and/ or concerns.
Your presentation: Each group will give a presentation in week 10 or 11. Please submit your slides to blackboard ahead of time. Topics that you should cover in the talk are:
a. Describe the research hypothesis and relevant literature;
b. Explain your approach to the research question and statistical analysis plan; c. Present your analysis results;
d. Discuss limitations in your project and possible future directions.
2. Applications of data analysis techniques to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
The NHANES is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. One unique characteristic of this survey is the combination of interviews and physical examinations. For the NHANES interviews, demographic, socioeconomic, dietary, and health-related information is collected. For the physical examinations, participants are invited for the detailed medical, dental, and physiological examinations, as well as laboratory tests administered by highly trained medical personnel.
Findings from this survey can be used to determine the prevalence of major diseases and risk factors for diseases. Information can also be used to assess nutritional status and its association with health promotion and disease prevention. For example, Dowda et al. (2003) used data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and multiple regression models to determine the relationships between demographic, biologic, lifestyle, social support index, environmental factors, and physical activity in young adults [1]. Gangwisch et al. (2005) used data from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and logistic regression models to examine inadequate sleep as a risk factor for obesity. BMI was dichotomized between obese (BMI≥30) and non-obese (BMI<30) for logistic regression analyses.
NHANES datasets can be downloaded from the following link:
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/search/datapage.aspx?Component=Dietary
3. Applications of data analysis techniques to the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN)
The NDACAN distributes the data for each study listed below.
http://www.ndacan.cornell.edu/datasets/datasets-list.cfm
All datasets are distributed free of charge with the exception of the NSCAW Restricted Release data. Click on a dataset name to see its details and to access its ordering instructions.
Data request can be made at the following link:
http://www.ndacan.cornell.edu/datasets/request-dataset.cfm
It takes about 1-3 weeks for data delivery. One example of the applications of data analysis techniques is to use logistic regression to determine whether maternal personality problems predict child neglect [3]. Results showed that a composite score reflecting maternal empathic capacity inversely predicted child neglect, whereas maternal depressive symptoms and loneliness did not.
4. National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD)
The NACJD website aims to facilitate research in criminal justice and criminology, through the preservation, enhancement, and sharing of computerized data resources; through the production of original research based on archived data; and through specialized training workshops in quantitative analysis of crime and justice data. Datasets from a list of NACJD studies can be obtained from the following link:http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/NACJD/discover-data.jsp
For example, the datasets from the National Crime Victimization Survey 2012 can be downloaded from the following link. Descriptions of the datasets and related publications are also given. http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/NACJD/studies/34650?q=%22national+crime+sur veys%22
One example of the applications of data analysis techniques is to use multivariate regressions, controlling for other socioeconomic covariates, to analyze the relationship between job access and homicide rates [4]. The study shows an inverse relationship between job accessibility and homicide rates across census tracts and the newly- constructed geographic areas in Chicago.
In addition, the world’s largest archive of computerized social science data is available from the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR). http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/ICPSR/index.jsp
ICPSR also includes the following special topics archives:
5. DATA.GOV The home of the U.S. Government’s open data
From data.gov, you will find data, tools, and resources to conduct research, develop web and mobile applications, design data visualizations, and more.
For example, under the category Health, you can find several datasets related to weight status and obsesity.
Community Health Status Indicators (CHSI) to Combat Obesity, Heart Disease and Cancer http://catalog.data.gov/dataset/community-health-status-indicators-chsi-to-combat- obesity-heart-disease-and-cancer
6. APA links to datasets and repositories
http://www.apa.org/research/responsible/data-links.aspx
7. Quandl
https://www.quandl.com/collections
8. KD Nuggets
http://www.kdnuggets.com/datasets/index.html
9. Open Stats Lab
https://sites.trinity.edu/osl
References
1. Dowda M, Ainsworth BE, Addy CL, Saunders R, Riner W. Correlates of physical activity among U.S. young adults, 18–30 years of age, from NHANES III. Ann Behav Med 2003, 26:15–23.
2. Gangwisch JE, Malaspina D, Boden-Albala B, Heymsfield SB. Inadequate sleep as a risk factor for obesity: analyses of the NHANES I. Sleep 2005, 28:1289–1296.
3. Shahar, G. Maternal personality and distress as predictors of child neglect. Journal of Research in Personality, 2001, 35:537–545.
4. Wang, F. Job access and homicide patterns in Chicago: An analysis at multiple geographic levels based on scalespace theory. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 2005, 21(2):195–217.
