Summer Research Institute (SRI)

SRI General Information

The National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN) sponsors a Summer Research Institute (SRI) as an online distance learning experience in the secondary analysis of child abuse and neglect data. The primary goals of the Institute are to increase utilization of NDACAN's holdings and to facilitate a secondary analysis project from which child abuse and neglect researchers can publish. In addition, the Institute provides child abuse and neglect researchers an opportunity for networking and collaborating with each other.

Participants are selected on a competitive basis and represent a wide variety of disciplines (e.g.social work, psychology, sociology, medicine, public health, nursing). NDACAN reviews applications to the SRI as individuals applying to attend the SRI, not research teams of two or more applying to attend together. Applicants are rated based on the quality of their proposal, their research background, and their intention to publish. In addition, an attempt is made to identify sets of proposals that complement each other either through use of the same dataset, interest in a similar content area, or application of similar statistical techniques.

Prior to the SRI, each participant obtains a NDACAN dataset and begins a secondary analysis project. During the SRI, participants work with the NDACAN staff as well as with computing and statistical consultants to refine their analysis plans and resolve technical problems. Analysis support is provided by the NDACAN staff and members of the Cornell staff or faculty. Although there may be a presentation on research methodology, statistics, or a data project of general interest, the Institute consists primarily of unstructured, self-guided computing sessions when participants work with the datasets on their own. The expectation is that each participant's work will result in a conference paper, journal article, or other publication.

There is no fee or tuition for the SRI. One potential cost for a participant could be the purchase of a web cam and headset microphone if the participant doesn’t have these already.

In order to inform potential applicants about the Institute and to highlight best practices for applying, NDACAN has created a video entitled Summer Research Institute: Overview and Guide to Applying.

NDACAN has also created a video entitled Summer Research Institute: Preparing to Participate with important information for accepted participants.

NDACAN e-mails an announcement for the Summer Research Institute to the NDACAN mailing list several months before the Institute and then makes a downloadable application available on this website. To receive the SRI announcement, please join our mailing list or follow us on Twitter.

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