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Canadian Century Canadian Century Research Infrastructure Research Infrastructure

CCRICCRIAn Interdisciplinary Census An Interdisciplinary Census

Database Project.Database Project.

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Canadian Century Research Canadian Century Research Infrastructure CCRIInfrastructure CCRI

• A cross-Canada initiative to develop databases from large random samples of manuscript census records for the period 1911-1951.

• These will be linked to contextual data and other Census sources covering periods from 1871 to 1901 and from 1961 to 2001.– http://www.canada.uottawa.ca/ccri/

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The User CommunityThe User Community

• Primary users will be sociologists, historians, geographers and economists, doing research on 20th Century Canada.

• We will produce different microdata files and other products for different users.

• Some researchers will access detailed data on a basis that ensures confidentiality by working in secure Research Data Centres.

• Other researchers will access anonymized public use files that provide less detail about individuals.

• We also expect the microdata files and linked contextual information to be used for teaching at all levels from high schools to postgraduate study.

• All researchers will require a user interface for access to contextual data (“metadata”) and to documentation of how Census questions were asked and coded at different times.

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User GoalsUser Goals

• Most users will want to write small or large research reports.

• Many users will want to compare results over time: - others will want to compare Canadian against US or British data.

• Since questions & enumerator instructions vary we will provide extensive online documentation.– Some potential users will want to do genealogical

research but this is not possible because Census data from 1911 on are confidential.

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Conceptual structure of the finaldatabase: A series of web-extractable, searchable, integrated and harmonized research databases

User Interface (UI)User Interface (UI)

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UI Design RequirementsUI Design Requirements

• Supports data extraction and download for anonymized microdata.

• Supports searchable contextual data and documentation.– Equal prominence to English and French.

• “Drill-down” for further layers of documentation, data and context.

• “Green Balloons” as organizing metaphor.

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The 1911 Census manuscript formThe 1911 Census manuscript form

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Geocoding allows mapping of Geocoding allows mapping of social patterns over timesocial patterns over time

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Population Density: 1911Population Density: 1911

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IPUMS: a successful modelIPUMS: a successful model

• Îp’-ums - Integrated Public Use Microdata Series based at the University of Minnesota.– Makes available US Census files from 1850.

• Differences between IPUMS & the Canadian Project (CCRI).– CCRI will have extensive retrievability of contextual

data (“meta-data”) via an attractive user interface.– CCRI takes more steps to preserve confidentiality. It

also includes data on religion.– CCRI has a large geocoding component.

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IPUMS-USA Welcome ScreenIPUMS-USA Welcome Screen

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CCRI Welcome Screen (English)CCRI Welcome Screen (English)

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CCRI Active Links PrototypeCCRI Active Links Prototype

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Drill Down to User IntroductionDrill Down to User Introduction

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Drill Down to InstructionsDrill Down to Instructions

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1911: Citizenship & Religion1911: Citizenship & Religion

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1911: Education & Languages1911: Education & Languages

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Drill down to NewspapersDrill down to Newspapers

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Newspaper Report ofNewspaper Report ofLegislative DebateLegislative Debate

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Drill Down to House of CommonsDrill Down to House of Commons

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Drill Down to 2ndary BibliographiesDrill Down to 2ndary Bibliographies

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Detail within 2ndary BibliographiesDetail within 2ndary Bibliographies

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Closing QuestionsClosing Questions

• Is there any better metaphor than “green balloons”?

• How can we foreground spatial mapping aspects of the database?

• Can we simplify users’ problem formulation, navigation and searching?