Spark Connections: January 6, 2022

Welcome Back!

Spark hopes that you and your loved ones had a *spark*tacular holiday!  Cheers to 2022 and a year of collaborative, innovative, and interdisciplinary research and learning. 

Join Spark on Fridays at 10:30-11:20am for a weekly "Spark Talk" focused on methods and tools of social research. Spark Talks features an innovative speaker and encourages unexpected and inter-disciplinary connections between researchers, including faculty and graduate students. Learn more about upcoming Spark events at spark.mcmaster.ca/events

January 14th 10:30- 11:20 am ET
The Social Autopsy
Stefan Timmermans
The social autopsy takes the death of a set of individuals as its starting point and then critically and systematically examines social and political conditions to explain these deaths and generate awareness and policy change. After discussing the methodology, Dr. Timmermans will provide three contemporary examples of excess deaths calling out for social autopsies: school shootings, Black deaths at the hands of police, and migrant border deaths.
Register here

January 21st 10:30- 11:20 am ET
Addressing Sensitivity Bias on Surveys
Matthew Nanes 
How can researchers accurately and safely measure sensitive topics on surveys? We evaluate several common methods using a randomized-controlled trial on a survey about insurgency in the Philippines. We find that a popular method for measuring sensitive information, the "forced choice experiment," confused respondents leading to inaccurate responses. A much simpler method of self-enumeration outperformed standard methods in terms of response rates without introducing similar confusion.
Register here

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In case you missed it:

Word Embeddings for Social Science
Dr. Dong Nguyen
Check it out here:

Looking to pool software licences?

Now you can! Fill out this form and we will reach out if we can match you with others looking to pool licences.

We are also attempting a pilot in fall term allowing for virtual desktop access to several licenses for major Qualitative Data Analysis software, and will be seeking volunteers to test out the viability of this option.  FSS faculty, please email talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca if you're interested in participating.  

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Research Conversations

We provide up to 4 hours of free support each year to all McMaster researchers (students, staff and faculty) on every social research topic imaginable.  If we can't help you, we'll help you find someone who can.   
Request a research consultation at https://forms.gle/7FciqxCtK5fN6AD97

Qualtrics Licences

If you are an FSS researcher who would like to request access to Qualtrics survey software, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/Gn2KvYgdebjo8d2W8.

Brighter Spark Applied Research

Spark offers custom research and evaluation, as well as highly skilled assistance in implementing virtually any social research method. Our cost-recovery services include methods and software training, custom research, state-of-the-art facilities, and taking on elements of your project to support its completion.
For a full list of Brighter Spark Applied Research's services, visit: https://spark.mcmaster.ca/brighter-spark

Help us profile your research, publications, job ads, opportunities, and upcoming events by sending them to: talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca to be showcased in our following newsletter.

Job Opening at McMaster - Jointly held between Department of Political Science and Master of Public Policy in Digital Society (Tenure-Track Position)

McMaster Faculty of Social Science invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor (or Associate in case of an exceptional candidate) jointly appointed by the Department of Political Science and new Master of Public Policy in Digital Society Department to begin July 1st 2022. Applicants must have expertise in public law and digital governance. .  

Extended Application Deadline: January 6th 2022
For full details about the position and how to apply please visit Working at McMaster.

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Research Impact Canada (RIC) Award Launched

Research Impact Canada (RIC), a network of research institutions dedicated to maximizing the impact of research in society, has launched the 2021-2022 edition of the RIC Engaged Scholarship Award for Graduate Students. Award recipients will earn a cash prize of $2000 (for MA students and recent MA graduates) or $3000 (for Ph.D. students and recent Ph.D. graduates), in addition to several opportunities to share their engaged research projects. 

Online Information Session: January 27th 2022 at 1pm EST Register here
The deadline for applications, which should be submitted online at forms.researchimpact.ca, by February 28th 2022, at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

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Student admissions OPEN for 2022-2023 MPP-DS Program

The Master of Public Policy in a Digital Society is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 offering (starting May 2022). MPP-DS is a 12-month professional graduate program that trains future policy leaders to navigate the rapidly changing technological landscape by bridging public policy thinking with technical expertise.  

Application Deadline: February 24th, 2022
For more information and to apply visit: https://socialsciences.mcmaster.ca/master-of-public-policy 

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Mapping the Global Dimensions of Policy Conference

The Department of Political Science at McMaster, in conjunction with the Canadian Research Chair in Public Policy and Globalization, Institute for Globalization and the Human Condition, and the School of Earth, Environment and Society are excited to present "Mapping the global dimension of policy 11- Multiple crises: Recovery, reform, transformation. This conference brings together graduate students whose research speaks to the questions raised in the fields of globalization and policy studies.

Conference dates: March 11-12th 2022.

For full conference details visit: https://bit.ly/3qiJ1N3

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In this new section, we want to celebrate the achievements of colleagues, friends, and those doing important social research with the potential to spark a brighter world.  We welcome recommendations for kudos features (including for yourself).  Please send them to: talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca.

Congrats to Celia Rothenberg (Religious Studies) for the article ‘Schitt’s Creek’ holiday special: For Jews like Johnny Rose, the menorah is still polished and lit, even in diaspora, which was recently featured in The Conversation.
Read the full article in The Conversation here

A big kudos to Gavin Andrews (Health Aging and Society Department) who has been awarded a prestigious Doctor of Science by the University of Nottingham. This rare "high doctorate" is awarded to a small number of academics who have become distinguished authorities in their disciplines after making outstanding, original contributions to their fields. 
Learn more about the D.Sc. and Gavin's accomplishments here

Congratulations to Alysha McDonald, Alex Pulchny, Erica Thomson and Sarah Masri (Sociology Doctoral Students) who were featured on the Canadian Sociological Association Fall 2021 Student Spotlight..
View their Student Spotlight Profiles here

Shout out to Vass Bednar (Master of Public Policy in Digital Society) who was featured in the Globe and Mail article "British regulator 'concerned' Dye & Durham legal-software acquisition could spark price hikes" 
Read the full Globe and Mail article here

Website: https://spark.mcmaster.ca/
Linked-in: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spark-a-centre-for-social-research-innovation/about/  
Email: talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca
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