Summer Research Institute (SRI)
Cornell University
NDACAN

** We are now accepting applications for the 2009 SRI. **

The application deadline is January 30, 2009. Please visit the 2009 Summer Research Institute application download page to obtain the application (MS Word format).

GENERAL INFORMATION
The National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (hereafter NDACAN) sponsors an annual Summer Research Institute (SRI) on the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, New York. The Institute provides an intensive experience in the secondary analysis of child abuse and neglect data. Participants represent a wide variety of disciplines (e.g., psychology, medicine, epidemiology, law, social work) and are selected on a competitive basis. The primary goals of the Institute are to increase utilization of NDACAN's holdings and to facilitate a medium-term secondary analysis project from which child abuse and neglect researchers can publish. In addition, the Institute provides child abuse and neglect researchers an invaluable opportunity for networking and collaborating with each other.

Prior to the Institute, each participant begins a secondary analysis project on an NDACAN dataset. During the Institute, participants work with the NDACAN staff as well as with computing and statistical consultants to refine their analysis plans and resolve technical problems. During the week there are workshops in research methodology, statistics, secondary analysis, and data management, as well as computing labs for hands-on work with the datasets. Instruction is provided by the NDACAN staff, members of the Cornell faculty, and by the Principal Investigators of the relevant studies. Participants give brief presentations of their current research and receive feedback from the other participants. The expectation is that each participant's work will result in a conference paper,  journal article, or other publication.

SCHEDULE AND ACCOMMODATIONS
Participants arrive on a Wednesday evening for an opening orientation and dinner. The Institute concludes after lunch on Sunday. The cost of housing, tuition, and most meals will be covered by NDACAN; participants are responsible for their travel expenses, some meals, and purchasing their dataset. Participants will stay in private rooms at the Statler Hotel on the Cornell campus. Sample SRI agenda (PDF)

SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS
The Archive encourages applications from advanced graduate students, post-doctoral scholars, faculty, and other researchers. Applicants are rated based on the quality of their proposal, their research background, and the intention to publish their findings. In addition to these criteria, applicants are selected in order to achieve some balance of datasets being represented. The Archive will give preference to researchers who have obtained and examined their intended dataset from our holdings prior to applying to the Institute. Approximately twelve participants are chosen.

An announcement regarding the Summer Research Institute is e-mailed annually in late summer, after which the downloadable application for the Institute is made available on-line. To receive this and other announcements, please join our mailing list.

Please direct correspondence regarding the Institute to NDACAN@cornell.edu.