The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor a 3-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) database. The ECLS-B is designed to support research on a wide range of topics pertaining to young children's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development and their health status across multiple contexts (e.g., home, child care, and kindergarten).
PURPOSE AND EXPECTED OUTCOME
The overall goal of the seminar is to provide researchers with opportunities to gain access to one of the most comprehensive data resources in the nation and to use the ECLS-B data in substantive research. The seminar will include both lecture and hands-on instruction. Specifically, the seminar will include the following topics and activities:
- an overview of the ECLS-B design, instruments, and database;
- discussion of the methodological and technical issues relevant to ECLS-B data use;
- instruction on and practice using the ECLS-B 9-month through kindergarten data; and
- hands-on experience in conducting analyses of ECLS-B data.
It should be noted that this seminar does not provide formal instruction on advanced statistical methods and analyses.
Participants will use the seminar to refine their research plans. At the conclusion of the seminar, participants will present a preliminary analysis plan that uses ECLS-B data, including a clear statement of their research questions, a rationale for the analysis, analytic approach (specifications of population, variables, statistical techniques, etc.), and preliminary results. Complimentary copies of any papers and publications using ECLS-B data should be sent to NCES.
QUALIFICATIONS
Participants attending this seminar should have a solid understanding of statistical methods, be experienced in using personal computers, and be proficient in the use of SPSS, SAS, or Stata statistical software packages. Participants will be expected to know how to perform SPSS, SAS, or Stata procedures, including recoding data and running statistical analyses (e.g., frequency distributions, cross-tabulations, means, regression analyses). Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- significance of the proposed research and potential benefit from participation in the seminar;
- consistency of the proposed research agenda with the data available in the ECLS-B at 9 months, 2 years, preschool, and kindergarten;
- experience in health, social, behavioral, or educational research; and
- knowledge and skills in statistical analyses and the use of statistical computer packages. (Please see attached application form for specific questions pertaining to your level of experience.)
Researchers with grants to use ECLS-B data and graduate students planning to use the data for their dissertation research will be given special consideration.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE SEMINAR
There is no fee to attend this seminar. NCES will provide training materials as well as computers for the hands-on practice. For out-of-town participants, NCES also will pay for transportation, hotel accommodations, and a fixed per diem for meals and incidental expenses during the training seminar.
