Advanced Spatial Analysis Training Program for Population Scientists

描述(申请人提供)：空间数据和方法在人口研究中的应用已被确定为当今人口科学家面临的一项关键的方法学挑战。虽然地理信息系统入门课程的教学环境得到了改善，但先进的空间分析方法在人口科学中的应用和使用仍然滞后。因此，下一代人口科学家可能没有做好充分准备，以利用空间统计分析中最近的方法发展和新的软件产品。这份R25培训补助金申请有两个目的。目标1：通过提供一系列关于尖端技术的高级空间分析讲习班，超越基本的地理信息系统培训，为人口科学的空间分析教学设定最高标准。拟举办的四个讲习班是：空间回归建模、地理加权回归、空间/多层次建模和空间格局分析。这些高级研讨会的目标受众是美国研究机构和人口相关机构的初出茅庐的人口科学家(即人口学相关学科的研究生和初级研究人员)。我们将为每个研讨会提供两次(视审查而定)，最多有200人参加。目的2：对系列讲习班进行补充，同时编写关于选定的四种空间分析方法和其他先进空间分析方法的资源材料；这些资源材料将通过现有的地理信息系统和人口科学(GISPopSci)网站公开提供。目前的网站将使用新的学习材料、参考清单和其他高级空间分析资源进行增强。此外，该网站将包括一些选项，允许人口科学界的任何成员登记他们自己的与人口学有关的空间项目和材料。我们打算为更广泛的人口科学领域开发并服务于该网站。在整个赠款期间，我们将评估讲习班对所有与会者的影响。将有一个离职调查，一年的跟踪调查，以及随后在第五年的后续调查(针对1-3年级的参与者)。我们相信，这些讲习班将促进空间信息人口学的进一步发展，并将培训200名职业早期学者。本申请是根据PA-06-507《人口研究教育计划》提交的。在大学部门、商业部门和教科书中学习先进空间分析方法的现有机会和资源有限、费用昂贵，而且往往不针对人口科学研究问题和应用。拟议的培训计划是独一无二的，提供针对职业生涯早期人口科学家的研讨会，并将为整个领域开发网络资源。虽然该计划是为人口科学家设计的，但公共卫生和流行病学等密切相关领域的研究人员不可避免地将从拟议的培训计划中受益。事实上，来自公共卫生、流行病学、健康科学和健康规划的参与者占参加我们之前关于地理信息系统和人口科学的R25培训计划的研究人员的22%(见附录E)。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The application of spatial data and methods to demographic research has been identified as a critical methodological challenge facing population scientists today. Although the instructional environment for introductory GIS courses has improved, the application and use of advanced spatial analysis methods in population science lags behind. Thus, the next generation of population scientists may not be adequately prepared to take advantage of the recent methodological developments and new software products in spatial statistical analysis. This R25 training grant application has two aims. Aim 1: To move beyond basic GIS training and set the highest standards for spatial analysis instruction in the population sciences by offering a series of advanced spatial analysis workshops on cutting-edge techniques. The four proposed workshops are: spatial regression modeling; geographically weighted regression; spatial/multi-level modeling; and spatial pattern analysis. The target audience for these advanced workshops is early-career population scientists (i.e., graduate students and junior researchers in demography-related disciplines) based at research institutions and population-related agencies in the U.S. We will offer each workshop twice (subject to a review), reaching as many as 200 attendees. Aim 2: To supplement the workshop series with parallel development of resource materials on the four selected and other advanced spatial analysis methods; resource materials that will be made publicly available via an existing GIS and Population Science (GISPopSci) website. The current website will be enhanced with new learning materials, reference lists, and other advanced spatial analysis resources. In addition, the website will include options that allow any member of the population science community to register their own spatial demography-related projects and materials. We intend for the website to be developed for and to serve the wider population science field. Throughout the grant period we will be evaluating the impact of the workshops on all attendees. There will be an exit survey, a one year follow-up, and a later follow-up survey in Year 5 (for Year 1-3 attendees). We believe these workshops will facilitate the further development of spatially-informed demography, and will have trained 200 early-career scholars. This application is submitted in response to PA-06-507 on "Educational Programs for Population Research." Existing opportunities and resources to learn advanced spatial analysis methods in the university sector, the commercial sector, and from textbooks, are limited, costly, and frequently not targeted towards population science research questions and applications. The proposed training program is unique, offers workshops targeted at early-career population scientists, and will develop web resources for the field at large. While the program is designed for population scientists it is inevitable that researchers in closely allied fields such as public health and epidemiology stand to gain from the proposed training program. Indeed, participants from public health, epidemiology, health sciences, and health planning accounted for 22 percent of the researchers who attended our previous R25 training program on GIS and Population Sciences (see Appendix E).