Program on Applied Demographics

Workshop Leader

Dr. Warren A. Brown's teaching, research and outreach efforts involve him with the application of demographic information to areas such as revitalization of downtown shopping districts, workforce planning, housing and residential development, hospitality and recreation industries, health services for the elderly, and environmental protection.

#1: Introduction to Microdata Files

Audience: Cornell students, staff and faculty with an interest in accessing and analyzing regional economic data from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Content:  Many of the federal statistical agencies produce public use versions of their microdata files--individual records for households and persons -- allowing researchers to prepare custom tabulations and conduct sophisticated analyses. This workshop covers: basic concepts needed to work with microdata; and demonstrates hands-on exercises using web-based tools for accessing, subsetting, tabulating and downloading microdata files. The workshop materials will include exercises to be done on your own, selecting from the microdata files for the Census 2000, Current Population Survey, American Housing Survey, and American Community Survey.

#2: Advanced Research Applications with the American Community Survey

Content: Academic researchers have mined decennial census data on a variety or topics with geographic perspectives ranging from neighborhoods to the nation. The American Community Survey (ACS) is the new source for such detailed demographic, social, economic and housing characteristics. The Census Bureau is discontinuing the decennial long form sample in Census 2010. The ACS is not simply a replacement, but rather a different kind of survey utilizing continuous measurement approaches and a rolling sample. The ACS offers a number of benefits to researchers: timeliness, comparability, reliability, and numerous data products. This workshop is intended to acquaint researchers with issues that may affect their analysis of ACS data.

#3: Data for Analyzing Consumer Markets

Registration: http://ciser.cornell.edu/ASPs/workshops.aspx

Audience: Cornell students, staff and faculty with an interest in accessing and analyzing regional economic data from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Content:  Attitudes, demographic characteristics, economic climate and prior behavior all have an impact on consumer spending and choice.  This workshop introduces you to the variety of data resources available from public and private vendors. Resources available to the Cornell community will be emphasized.

#4: Community and Regional Profiles

Audience: Cornell students, staff and faculty conducting demographic research.

Content: Community profiles represent one of the most fundamental products of an applied research unit. Within those profiles are a number of key demographic variables.  This session focuses on helping researchers understand the foundations of demographic research, providing the most important data sources and fundamental tools/techniques for conducting demographic research.  You will learn by doing - accessing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting demographic data for your community, county or region.

#5: Data for Workforce and Economic Development

Audience: Cornell students, staff and faculty with an interest in accessing and analyzing regional economic data from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Content: A region's economy may be characterized by the industries in which it's specialized and its competitive position vis a vis other regions. This workshop will demonstrate how data files from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau can be used to better understand the linkages between workforce and industry in a region.