2010-2011 Annual Report2010-2011
Annual Report
The California State University Social Sciences Research and Instructional Council (SSRIC) The SSRIC is composed of representatives from each of the CSU campuses. Its overall objective is to support faculty, staff and student research and teaching in all social science disciplines. It does this by: · Working with the Chancellor’s office to ensure continued system-wide access to social science databases · Developing instructional materials and making them available on the Council’s website (www.ssric.org) · Initiating and conducting workshops on how to access and use quantitative data from the aforementioned sources · Supporting faculty research by facilitating access to ICPSR training and the use of the Field poll for research · Providing a forum for sharing information about using data in research and teaching · Sponsoring an annual student research conference COUNCIL ACTIVITIES Databases The databases the CSU subscribes to include the: · Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) at the University of Michigan. Founded in 1962, the Consortium houses data from over 600 studies representing over 60,000 datasets. These data are made available to member institutions such as the CSU · Roper Center for Public Opinion Research at the University of Connecticut. Founded in 1947, the Center houses the world’s largest archive of survey data. · The Field Institute in San Francisco is an independent, nonpartisan public opinion news service that has operated since 1947. It has issued over 2300 different reports based on its polls of California residents. In 2010-11, the SSRIC generated over $190,000 by soliciting subscriptions from each CSU campus (except the Maritime Academy) and garnering additional support from the Chancellor’s office to maintain access to these databases. The consolidation of membership in these organizations, facilitated by the SSRIC, represents a considerable savings (over $121,000 or 40%) to faculty and campuses that would otherwise have to subscribe individually. Students, faculty and staff are able to download data, codebooks, and other material directly to their computers as a result of this access. Instructional Materials and Workshops SSRIC also makes available instructional material via its website. These include two online textbooks, instructional modules and exercises, and instructional handouts. Continuing this year, SSRIC representatives have been working with Andrew Roderick (SFSU Academic Computing) to continue to update some of these modules, particularly by exploring new ways of delivering workshop content online. The Council also offers free workshops at any campus where faculty have expressed an interest in learning how to access and analyze quantitative data from ICPSR, Roper and Field, and using SDA. Workshops are also provided on the use of SPSS for data analysis. In 2010-11, ten workshops were conducted on three campuses (see table), providing instruction to approximately 150 faculty, staff, and students. Workshops: Academic
Year 2010-11
Faculty Research For the summer of 2011, the ICPSR made available support for one CSU faculty and/or students to attend its summer session. Faculty and students are invited to compete for this support by submitting their resume and a statement about what training they intend to pursue and how it will support their research and/or teaching. This year one faculty member (from Fresno) was awarded a fee/tuition waiver. Each year the Field Poll provides SSRIC with the opportunity to award CSU faculty with a fellowship that includes credit for a limited number of items to be included on an upcoming Field poll. Applicants submit RFPs and a committee chooses from among them. This year, Jennifer Murphy of CSU Sacramento (Sociology) was awarded the fellowship for her proposal titled “Do Attitudes toward Addiction Predict Attitudes toward Drug Policy?” Forums for Sharing Information The Council met three times in the 2010-11 academic year; in October at CSU Sacramento, in February at CSU Channel Islands, and in April at San Jose State. In response to a request from the Chancellor’s office for the Council to look for ways to cut its budget, there was no travel reimbursement for council members (as has been the case for the past several years. Some members participated in the meetings virtually using Elluminate software, while others from nearby campuses attended in person. Despite the lack of travel support, attendance at the meetings was good as many representatives were willing to look elsewhere for funding or attend at their own expense. Student Research Conference The SSRIC hosted its 35th annual student research conference at San Jose State on April 29, 2011. Fourteen students from four campuses (San Jose, Sacramento, Monterey Bay, and LA) presented research in a variety of social science disciplines. The following students were presented with awards for outstanding presentations:
Structure and Governance Officers and Chairs The officers and committee chairs for the 2010-11 year consisted of the following: Chair: Greg Bohr (San Luis Obispo) Executive Committee: John Korey (Pomona), Ed Nelson (Fresno), Lori Weber (Chico), Josh Meisel (Humboldt) Field committee: Ed Nelson (Fresno) ICPSR summer stipend: Greg Bohr (San Luis Obispo) TRD: Gene Turner (Northridge) Student conference: Rich Taketa (San Jose) Chair-elect: Josh Meisel (Humboldt) The SSRIC has
also been actively involved in governance at ICPSR. Lori Weber is completing a
term on the ICPSR’s 11-member governing council, and other SSRIC members have
served there in the past. SSRIC representatives have also been active
members of ICPSR’s undergraduate research paper competition review
committee. Within the CSU, Ed Nelson (Fresno) has a leading role in
the relatively new Consortium of Applied Social
Science Research Centers (CASSRC). 2010-11 Business Meetings and Student Conference Fall: October 2010, East Bay Winter: February, 2011, LA Spring Meeting and Student
Conference: April 2011, San Jose |
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