Policy for Supporting IRP Graduate Research Fellows (GRF) Research Using the Wisconsin Administrative Data Core
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Policy Goals:
Increase utilization of WI Administrative Data Core (WADC) for applied policy research
Provide valuable training for graduate students in the use of administrative data
Eligibility Requirements:
Student must be an active IRP Graduate Research Fellow (GRF) at time of application and commit to remaining so throughout their time at UW–Madison (e.g., regularly attend GRF seminars, IRP seminars, etc.).
Student can have one research project covered by this policy.
Student must be sponsored by an UW-IRP Faculty Affiliate who is willing to:
Act as Principal Investigator (PI) for the project (and, thus, ensure completion of appropriate data access permission, IRB, and other processes);
Write a letter of recommendation in support of the proposal and the student’s ability to complete the project (see Letter of Recommendation template); and
Oversee the project to its completion (e.g., monitor progress and provide feedback, ensure compliance with all IRP/WADC policies, sign off on final report).
Review Process:
Student must submit a research proposal describing research questions, data to be used, methods, how the project contributes to the field and supports data providing agency mission(s), and a work plan/timeline (complete the online WADC Data Use Application form).
Student must also submit a letter of recommendation written by a UW-IRP Faculty Affiliate who agrees to act as PI on the project (see Letter of Recommendation template).
Proposals will be reviewed on a first come, first served/rolling basis.
Proposals will be reviewed by the IRP Data Access Committee, the GRF director, and, as appropriate, a faculty member or researcher with expertise in the subject area.
Approval criteria include:
Research questions are of importance to field
Research questions are in service of mission(s) of data providing agencies
Appropriate, rigorous research methods employed
IRP has capacity to staff and support project
Letter of recommendation from PI provides confidence in project (contribution to field, appropriateness/rigor of methods, as well as student’s ability to complete it)
Other Requirements:
Project must be approved by each state agency contributing data. IRP staff will manage the state agency approval process.
Student must complete WADC and data security training.
Student must sign all data access agreements and comply with all data security and data sharing policies, including submission of all presentations and written products for state agency review in a timely manner (at least 30 days prior to presentation or publication; IRP staff will manage this review process).
Please be aware that the full review, data use permission, training and access process may take several (3–4) months. One full calendar year is likely on the very shortest end of a viable timeline for a project.
Data Services Pricing Policy:
If the approved project uses already created data files that are available for immediate use, there are no data service charges (i.e., faculty PI and IRP staff support will be provided in-kind).
See the WADC webpage for more information about what data are available; IRP staff will review your proposal and let you know whether your project meets this criterion.
If any new, individualized data files must be created, IRP will provide a data services estimate, and students must provide funding before approved projects can move forward. IRP programmer capacity may also be an issue in IRP’s ability to approve projects requiring additional data services.
If the project would bring new data to the Data Core, it is possible that data service fees could be reduced or waived, as this would be an institutional investment in support of improving the resource. Such projects will be considered by the IRP Data Access Committee on a case by case basis.