Advanced Spatial Analysis Training Program for Population Scientists

描述（由申请人提供）：将空间数据和方法应用于人口研究已被确定为当今人口科学家面临的关键方法挑战。虽然地理信息系统入门课程的教学环境有所改善，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充分准备利用空间统计分析方面最近的方法发展和新的软件产品。这项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，为人口科学领域的空间分析教学设定最高标准。建议的四个讲习班是：空间回归建模；地理加权回归；空间/多层次建模;以及空间格局分析。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早期职业人口科学家（即人口相关学科的研究生和初级研究人员）。我们将举办两次研讨会（需经过审查），最多可达200人。目标2：通过平行开发关于所选的四种先进空间分析方法的资源材料来补充系列研讨会；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。目前的网站将增加新的学习材料、参考列表和其他先进的空间分析资源。此外，该网站将包括选项，允许人口科学社区的任何成员注册他们自己的空间人口统计学相关项目和材料。我们打算为更广泛的人口科学领域开发和服务该网站。在整个资助期间，我们将评估研讨会对所有与会者的影响。将会有一个离校调查，一个为期一年的跟踪调查，以及在五年级的后续调查（针对1-3年级的学员）。我们相信这些研讨会将促进空间信息人口统计学的进一步发展，并将培训200名早期职业学者。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是有限的、昂贵的，而且往往不是针对人口科学研究问题和应用的。拟议的培训计划是独一无二的，它提供针对早期职业人口科学家的讲习班，并将为该领域开发网络资源。虽然该计划是为人口科学家设计的，但不可避免的是，公共卫生和流行病学等密切相关领域的研究人员将从拟议的培训计划中获益。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的R25 GIS和人口科学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).