Introducing the Atlanta Census Research Data Center
Julie Hotchkiss
Executive Director
Atlanta Census Research Data Center
When and Where? Friday, August 31, 2012, 3:30- 5:00 in room XXXXX
What is a RDC?
Research Data Centers are secure U.S. Census Bureau facilities where researchers have access
to restricted-use microdata for approved research projects. Research undertaken in these
facilities informs policy in ways not possible with publicly available data, and benefits Census
through increased use and scrutiny of Census data and data collection methodologies.
What's the advantage of using restricted-use data?
 Exclusivity. There are only 15 RDC locations in the U.S. One of the most recent
additions is located in Atlanta, GA. Since one has to physically travel to a RDC to use
the data, being less than four hours away is a tremendous advantage.
 Publications and External Funding. Access to these data is still relatively rare -researchers have had tremendous publication success from having made an investment
in using the data. NSF collaborates with Census to provide incentives for more
researchers to use the data. The first of several expected RFPs was issued in 2010
explicitly targeting the use of restricted-use data.
Who does research in a RDC? Researchers come from all fields; below is a small sampling
of research titles using RDC data.
Business:
"Do Market Leaders Lean in Business Process Innovation? The Case(s) of E-business Adoption"
"Employee Capitalism or Corporate Socialism? Broad-based Employee Stock Ownership"
Natural Resources:
"The Effects of Environmental Regulation on the Competitiveness of U.S. Manufacturing"
Sociology:
"Migration Decisions in Arctic Alaska: Empirical Evidence of Stepping Stones Hypothesis"
"Workplace Concentration of Immigrants"
City and Regional Planning:
"How Low Income Neighborhoods Change: Entry, Exit, and Enhancement"
Education:
"The Effect of Class Size on Teacher Attrition [in New York State]: ..."
Health:
"Did Vietnam Veterans Get Sicker in the 1990s? The ... Effects of Military Service on ... Health"
"Trends in the Determinants of Race/Ethnic Disparities in Child Health"
Engineering:
"Travel Patterns"
Additional Information:
Center for Economic Studies, Census: http://www.census.gov/ces/
Atlanta Census Research Data Center: http://aysps.gsu.edu/acrdc/