The Programming Services Team specializes in all aspects of research data management. The team keeps abreast of the latest software & techniques for the analysis and management of data in a research environment by participating in computer programming conferences and ongoing professional training.

General support for all PRI associates:

• Online documentation, help and coding examples on our website
• 'Help' desk services daily: by appointment or email
• Consultation on programming methods & strategies
• Consultation on the use of statistical software and referrals for methodological questions
  
• Training and workshops
• Preparation of data extracts from our archive
• File conversion

Services are available to all PRI researchers. Projects that require intensive or extended support would benefit by reserving dedicated support of one or more programmers.

Programmer support of PRI/SSRI funded research projects:

• Database design for analysis or project management
  
• Team webspaces and web-accessible database systems
  
• Data management including merging, reshaping data files and variable construction
• Basic statistical analysis
• Mentoring/training of graduate assistants
• Data sharing strategies for primary and derived datasets
  

Researchers can ensure that they have the programming support they need, when they need it, by requesting programming services at the time a grant proposal is submitted. Programmers are assigned to a project based on availability and skills required. It is important to remember that although an individual programmer is assigned to your project, you will in a sense be acquiring the skills and experience of the entire team.

Scheduling arrangements are very flexible and are dictated by the specific needs of your project. However, there are several common scenarios:

Data Manager

Coordination of all data related tasks including: gathering files, data conversion and standardization of file structures, inventory, data cleaning.. Maintaining appropriate security. Design of data entry and web-based data collection systems for primary data collection. Generating technical documentation & codebooks for in-house and public-release data. Web-site design. Extracting, merging & re-shaping of data prior to analysis. Conducting univariate & multivariate statistical analyses & generation of statistical graphics. A data manager would typically be scheduled from 12 to 32 hours a week throughout the duration of the grant.

Programmer/Analyst

Prepare data files, construct high-level computer programs to combine & modify data sets. Build data entry systems. Writing high-level computer programs and macros for statistical analysis. Graphical user interfaces for applications. Recoding & constructing new variables. Imputation of missing values. Producing statistical graphics. Web-page construction. A programmer/analyst would typically be scheduled on a task-by-task basis in time slots ranging from 8 to 32 hours a week.

Consultant

Advising on data management strategies and software requirements for grant proposals. Providing dedicated assistance to faculty & students who write their own code. Training & monitoring computer work of graduate assistants assigned to the project. A programming consultant would typically be scheduled from 4-12 hours a week for a period of 2 weeks or more.

Statistical Consultant

Programmers work with the PRI Statistics Core to provide advice on the appropriate use of statistical software packages. If you have methodological questions, we will match you up with an expert.

Other services

The team also supervises a Graduate Assistantship in Social Science Research Computing.

If you have questions concerning programming support services, contact Jeanne Spicer (863-8321)