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Department of Methodology and Statistics

Current practice Research MasterOur views on EMOS

Laurence E. FrankPeter G.M. van der HeijdenJoop J. HoxHerbert Hoijtink

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Overview

Department of Methodology and Statistics Organisation and Expertise Programs

• Research Master• PhD

Our view on contribution to EMOS

Collaboration with Statistics Netherlands (CBS) Courses, PhD projects, Statistical consultancy

Needs and Offers Statistics Netherlands

Knowledge

Learning & Development

Research

Innovation

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Department of Methodology and Statistics

Main research areas: Methodology, Statistics, Applied Bayesian Statistics

Strong interconnection between Methodology (research design and data collection) and Statistics (development of advanced statistical techniques)

45 people, 6 professors, 10 PhD students

Provides majority statistics courses in bachelor and master for all programs in Faculty of Social Sciences

Research Master (2 years) Methodology and Statistics in the Behavioural and Social Sciences

Substantial part of our research funded by grants from NWO(Netherlands Organisation for Scientific research)

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Department of Methodology and Statistics

Close connections with Public Institutions (funding and collaboration):

Statistics Netherlands (CBS): funding, courses, statistical consultancy

Research and Documentation Centre of the Ministry of Justice

Welfare Directory of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment

TNO funds a chair in Applied Statistics in Prevention

MOA (Market Research Association) funds a chair in the Quality of Survey Research

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Chairs related to Official Statistics

Statistics in the Behavioural and Social Sciences Prof. Peter G.M. van der Heijden

capture-recapture, categorical data analysis, randomized response (sensitive questions in surveys)

Social Science Methodology Prof. Joop J. Hox

data quality in social surveys, survey nonresponse, interviewer effects, missing data problems, multilevel modeling

Survey Methodology Prof. Edith D. de Leeuw

mixed-mode surveys, nonresponse, online surveys, interviewing special groups, survey quality, methods of data collection

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Chairs related to Official Statistics

Business Survey Methodology Prof. Ger J.M.E. Snijkers methodology, surveys, business surveys, questionnaire design and

pre-testing, nonresponse, contact strategy

Applied Statistics in Prevention Prof. Stef van Buuren (TNO funding) multiple imputation, response conversion (application of IRT in

health surveys to improve comparability of existing health information), project coordination EC, DG Sanco, statistical aspects of child growth (consultation WHO)

SN funding

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Research Master

Start 2006: first accredited 2-year master program (120 EC) in this field in the Netherlands

"Behavioural and Social Sciences", but ... acquired knowledge and skills useful in broad spectrum of application areas

Unique combination Methodology and Statistics

small-group, personal teaching

Job opportunities PhD in Methodology and Statistics PhD in other Behavioural Science field Methodologist / Statistician in research institute, government

organistation, Statistics Netherlands, NGO, private enterprise

Methodology and Statistics in the Behavioural and Social Sciences

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Research Master: overview courses (year 1)

Fundamental skills & knowledge Multivariate Statistics Foundations of Statistics Statistical programming with R

Methodology and research designs Advanced Survey Methodology Advanced experimental and quasi experimental designs (year 2)

Broad spectrum of statistical models Categorical data analysis and psychometrics Introduction to multilevel analysis (mixed models) and structrural

equation modeling Advanced Topics (Bayesian statistics, handling missing data,

business survey methodology)

Elective course

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Research Master: overview courses (year 2)

Traineeship

Research seminar I, II

Master thesis format: scientific paper, ready to submit to peer reviewed

international journal

Examples Traineeship at Statistics Netherlands + thesis Incentives for Businesses: an empirical study (2009) Making use of multiple imputation to analyse heaped data

(2010)

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PhD projects related to Official Statistics

Current projects: Tailoring to the MAX: using new IC technology to increase data

quality and efficiency in panel surveys

Funded by Statistics Netherlands: Restrictive imputation of incomplete survey data Nonresponse and nonresponse bias Motivation of respondents in Business surveys (vacancy)

Completed projects: Analyzing missclassified data: Randomized response and post

randomization Difficult groups in survey research and the development of tailor-

made approach strategies

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Our views on EMOS

Many courses of our Research Master might be of interest for EMOS students

Preference for one-semester courses (15 weeks) instead of short modules (allows in-depth covarage of topics)

Use technology for long distance learning, learn from experiences Joint Program in Survey Methodology (US)

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Possible model for UU participation in EMOS

Solves problem of housing, “cheap” model in which many countries can participate

students are registered in country where they reside + pay fees (solves problem of large differences between tuition fees in EU countries)

only accredited courses can be followed (Bologna) students follow part of the courses in own country (e.g. sampling) students follow part of courses abroad when course is on a

specialised topic (use long distance learning technology) internship / master thesis preferably in other than own country students obtain master diploma in their own country + additional

EMOS certificate management board that checks the quality and content of the

courses on a regular basis (easier for universities/institutes to recognise courses given by other parties)

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Future ambitions

Other collaborations we are currently exploring:

Erasmus Mundus “Applied Statistics for Public Decision Making” (Budapest, Ljubliana, Palermo).

Focus on educational testing, biostatistics, forensic statistics, environmental statistics

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Collaboration with Statistics Netherlands

Research SN funds a chair in Business Survey Methodology and 3 PhD

projects

Education traineeships+master theses Statistics Netherlands Award for best thesis courses given for SN employees by UU courses given by SN employees

Statistical consultancy collaboration (part-time appointments two staff members) to

prepare 2011 Census

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Needs of Statistics Netherlands

Courses in Data collection (e.g. electronic data collection methods,

measuring the quality of the response) Throughput Register methodology (e.g. use of administrative

registers in the production of statistics) Measuring the economy (e.g. time series) Analysis & Output (e.g. longitudinal analysis, multilevel

analysis, data visualisation) Estimation (e.g. small area estimators)

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Needs of Statistics Netherlands

A university near Statistics Netherlands that offers (part of the) courses for our needs

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Offers of Statistics Netherlands

Survey of Statistical Methods Description of validated statistical methods that are in use at

Statistics Netherlands for the entire statistical process About 35 papers with approximately 1350 pages

Books on survey theory sampling theory non-response correction price index theory statistical data editing and imputation statistical disclosure control web surveys

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Offers of Statistics Netherlands

Courses we could contribute to Non-response correction Statistical disclosure control National Accounts Data visualisation Metadata Editing and imputation Sampling theory

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Information

Department of Methodology and Statisticshttp://www.fss.uu.nl/ms

Research master program:http://www.uu.nl./programmes/ms

Statistics Netherlandshttp://www.cbs.nl