Track: Datasets, Data Collections and Data Archiving
Stories from LSAC - The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
Session Convenor: Joanne Corey, Australian Bureau of StatisticsThe Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) commenced in 2003-4 with two cohorts of children; 0-1 year olds and 4-5 year olds - and their families. Over the years there have been many changes in the way the data has been collected, what data has been collected, and the way the study has interacted with the various respondents. These changes were due to the increasing ages of the cohorts, new priorities in research and policy areas, technological advancements, concerns about how engaging the interview experience was, and reactions to increasing attrition. This session invites presentations that illustrate the changing tools used to interview, engage, incentivise, and track respondents over the course of the LSAC to date, as well as changes to data requirements over the waves.
 Open Submissions |
Peer-reviewed abstracts |
Trends in Australian Social Attitudes
Session Convenor: Shaun Wilson, Macquarie UniversityThis session will be devoted to the discussion of trends in Australian social attitudes or any social research involving the Australian Survey of Social Attitudes that is fielded by ACSPRI. Presentations could include any Australia-focused survey research on topics of interest to applied social and political scientists. One goal of the session will be develop a more complete understanding of how Australian society is changing and the implications of this change for a future survey program.
| Open Submissions |
Peer-reviewed abstracts |
2018 World Values Survey: methods and results
Session Convenor: Benjamin Phillips, The Social Research CentreThe World Values Survey was fielded in Australia by the Social Research Centre on behalf of the Australian National University in 2018 using an innovative address-based sampling (ABS) frame and sequential push-to-web and paper mode design.
This session will consist of three papers. The first paper will present the background of the World Values Survey and top-line findings from the 2018 administration.
The second paper will describe the methods used in the 2018 administration. The ABS approach used to draw the sample from the Geocoded National Address File (G-NAF) will be detailed, together with the sequential web and paper mode design. ABS designs are an alternative to random digit dialling, offering very high coverage. The effectiveness of these methods will be considered.
The third paper will present the results of experiments conducted in a parallel WVS administration on Life in Australia™, Australia’s only probability-based online research panel, which includes offline respondents via telephone surveys. The parallel administration explored a variety of methodological questions: the impact of scale order on responses by survey mode, tests of grid vs. item-by-item administration, and experimentation with the orientation of 11-point semantic differential scales used throughout the WVS.
| Open Submissions |
Peer-reviewed abstracts |
Track: Research Methods and Techniques
Medical statistics and analysis techniques
Session Convenor: Jing Sun, Griffith UniversityMedical statistics covers a range of topics including meta-analysis and network meta-analysis, experimental and clinical trials research, cohort, registry data, prospective and retrospective studies and data. The session will cover a number of topics:
- Study design in medical research
- Data collection and data management in medical research
- Data analysis using special analytical techniques for meta analysis, network meta analysis, randomised controlled trials, cohort study, registry data, retrospective and prospective studies.
| Open Submissions |
Peer-reviewed abstracts |
Questionnaire and item reliability, validity and ordering
Session Convenor: Len Coote, University of Queensland, Brisbane| Open Submissions |
Peer-reviewed abstracts |
Methods for policy and planning
Session Convenor: Catriona Mirrlees-Black, Law & Justice Foundation of NSW| Open Submissions |
Peer-reviewed abstracts |
Innovations in Data Analysis
Session Convenor: Ann Evans, Australian National University, Canberra| Open Submissions |
Peer-reviewed abstracts |
Data visualisation and simulation
Session Convenor: Adam Zammit, ACSPRI| Open Submissions |
Peer-reviewed abstracts |
Track: Research Paradigms and Designs
Big Data: Analyses, approaches, and​ ethics
Session Convenor: Barry Milne, The University of AucklandThis session will showcase analyses and datasets containing 'big data'. Big data here includes both administrative population data, which tends to be structured, as well as organic data (e.g., social media data, sensor data), which is often unstructured. Papers will be considered which cover a wide range of topics, including:
- a description of new datasets involving big data
- interesting analytic approaches to analysis of big data, including machine learning approaches
- linkage issues associated with big data, and analytic approaches to deal with incomplete linkage
- research infrastructure developments to support big data collation and analysis
- a description of training programmes and courses to develop skills in big data analysis
- ethics, consent and confidentiality issues relating to use of big data
| Open Submissions |
Peer-reviewed abstracts |
Research Methodology in Sociology of Health and Medicine
Session Convenor: Gina Aalgaard Kelly, North Dakota State UniversitySession Convenor: Rebecca Olson, University of Queensland
Medical Sociology examines the medical and healthcare system. The examination may include how individuals interact with and interpret experiences of their health and illness as well as social factors that might impact perceptions of health and illness.
This session invites papers utilising quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods approaches to understanding health and illness in society. Topic examples are healthcare utilisation, mental health and illness, access to healthcare and health disparities.
| Open Submissions |
Peer-reviewed abstracts |
The state of play in online research in Australia. Problems, pitfalls and opportunities
Session Convenor: Nicholas Biddle, Australian National UniversitySession Convenor: Sebastian Kocar, Australian Data Archive
Session Convenor: Darren Pennay, The Social Research Centre Pty Ltd
Session Convenor: Andrew Ward, The Social Research Centre Pty Ltd
In Australia and worldwide the increase in internet penetration has seen a plethora of non-probability internet panels established. These panels provide researchers with access to panel members prepared to undertake surveys for ‘rewards’. In the United States and parts of Europe the increased use of the web for data collection also resulted in establishment of probability-based online research panels based on the scientific sampling of the population. The same is now also true in Australia where the probability-based Life in Australia (TM) panel was established by the Social Research Centre in late 2016. The session is looking for presentations that explore the advantages and disadvantages of probability and non-probability surveys and when each of these methods is considered ‘fit-for-purpose’ as well as opportunities and future directions for methods supporting online research. Possible topics include: An examination of the quality of estimates produced from probability surveys and non-probability online panels; A discussion of findings from recent research which compares the findings of surveys undertaken on probability and nonprobability panels; The uses being made of nonprobability samples and the perceived strengths and limitations of such samples; Data quality issues associated with research via online panels including lessons learnt from transition to online and/or mixed mode of data collection; and Measures and methods being explored to try to reduce the bias of estimates produced via non-probability sampling methods.
| Open Submissions |
Peer-reviewed abstracts |
Video reflexive ethnography: Creative scholarship for impact - Part 1
Session Convenor: Ann Dadich, School of Business, Western Sydney UniversityThe use of video to understand what people do, how they do it, why they do it, and the associated effects is growing. This is particularly because of its potential to: reveal the mundane; capture what people are comfortable to demonstrate (consciously or subconsciously); and record micro-matters that might be overlooked.
However, the use of video has also come to denote scrutiny and surveillance. This session counters these connotations. Papers in this session will demonstrate how video reflexive ethnography and other post-qualitative visual methodologies can promote creative and impactful scholarship. Used internationally, video reflexive ethnography has a demonstrated potential to ignite creative and impactful scholarship.
To further current understandings of this, and related methodologies, papers in this session will demonstrate:
- The various uses of video reflexive ethnography and other post-qualitative visual methodologies
- Their potential to promote:
- Engagement with, understanding, and negotiation of complexity, particularly within organisations
- Creative and impactful scholarship
- Theory development
- The challenges associated with post-qualitative visual methodologies and helpful management strategies
| Open Submissions |
Peer-reviewed abstracts |
Video reflexive ethnography: Creative scholarship for impact - Part 2
Session Convenor: Ann Dadich, School of Business, Western Sydney UniversityThe use of video to understand what people do, how they do it, why they do it, and the associated effects is growing. This is particularly because of its potential to: reveal the mundane; capture what people are comfortable to demonstrate (consciously or subconsciously); and record micro-matters that might be overlooked.
However, the use of video has also come to denote scrutiny and surveillance. This session counters these connotations. Papers in this session will demonstrate how video reflexive ethnography and other post-qualitative visual methodologies can promote creative and impactful scholarship. Used internationally, video reflexive ethnography has a demonstrated potential to ignite creative and impactful scholarship.
To further current understandings of this, and related methodologies, papers in this session will demonstrate:
- The various uses of video reflexive ethnography and other post-qualitative visual methodologies
- Their potential to promote:
- Engagement with, understanding, and negotiation of complexity, particularly within organisations
- Creative and impactful scholarship
- Theory development
- The challenges associated with post-qualitative visual methodologies and helpful management strategies
| Open Submissions |
Peer-reviewed abstracts |
Online panel development and retention
Session Convenor: Nicholas Biddle, Australian National UniversitySession Convenor: Sebastian Kocar, Australian Data Archive
Session Convenor: Darren Pennay, The Social Research Centre Pty Ltd
Session Convenor: Andrew Ward, The Social Research Centre Pty Ltd
| Open Submissions |
Peer-reviewed abstracts |
Social theoretical frameworks
Session Convenor: Bruce Tranter, University of Tasmania| Open Submissions |
Peer-reviewed abstracts |
Innovative qualitative and mixed method approaches
Session Convenor: Pat Bazeley, Western Sydney University| Open Submissions |
Peer-reviewed abstracts |
Track: Research Technology and Tools
Research tools and coding
| Open Submissions |
Peer-reviewed abstracts |
ACSPRI Social Science Methodology Conference
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