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HSRC Annual Report 2016/17
The HSRC Press attended or exhibited at a record 49 local events and conferences, and co-ordinated 13 new book
launches. Six international events were attended. Both the sales of books as well as the online dissemination of free
content on open access increased substantially in the financial year compared to the previous year.
Research Methodology and Data Centre (RMDC)
RMDC profile
The RMDC is a cross-cutting unit that provides efficient data capturing systems, and uses relevant analysis techniques
to respond to key research questions. It makes research data accessible and user-friendly to inform monitoring and
evaluation, further analysis, as well as debate, advocacy decision-making, implementation and training.
Research themes
Amajor strength of the RMDC is that its work focus can be divided into four themes that are led by unit heads as follows:
•
Researchmethodology design and statistical analysis:
High quality research requires sound and robust research
design. During the development of proposals, the RMDC is consulted to provide guidance on best and appropriate
research designs to respond to research questions;
•
GIS and spatial analysis:
The Geographic Information System (GIS) Centre focuses on the analysis of migration
patterns, inequality, understanding population changes, city layout changes, changes in unemployment patterns,
census output areas, spatial aspects of sample design, and the production of fieldwork maps, among others;
•
Data collection, capturing andmanagement:
The Fieldwork and Data Capturing (FDC) Unit conducts fieldwork;
does data capturing; manages the captured data for the HSRC; and occasionally does data capturing for external
clients; and
•
Data curation, preservation and dissemination:
The HSRC supports data sharing, ensuring that data are
managed, organised and preserved for reuse. The unit ensures the survival and usability of research data, as well
as the dissemination of datasets for secondary use by enhancing the HSRC’s data collection through developing,
maintaining and implementing policies and standard operating procedures, and establishing and maintaining
systems in support of the data curation processes.
Highlights
Since its inception in 2012, the RMDC has been involved in a number of activities that support the HSRC’s research,
including:
•
Conducting secondary analysis of datasets that have bearing on National Development Plan indicators and Sustainable
Development Goals, such as South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Study, 2012 (SANHANES),
SABSSM V, SASAS and TIMMS datasets;
•
Develop spatial analysis framework to inform secondary data analysis;
•
Work collaboratively with other research programmes in writing proposals for fund raising;
•
Conduct internal capacity development in the areas of data analysis, computing and research methodology;
•
Design databases in CSPro and RedCap for digital data collection for all HSRC projects;
•
Conduct data management for the three main projects it is currently involved in, namely SABSSM V, TB Prevalence
Survey and Victim Empowerment Survey;
•
Curate the data deposited by research programmes to reach the ADEPTS (Advance – Develop – Enhance – Preserve
– Transform – Sustain) curation targets; and
•
Develop, maintain and implement policies and standard operating procedures.