The Social Science Data Analysis Center (SSDAC) provides assistance to Institute personnel in the ever-expanding areas of statistical and computer applications. SSDAC enhances the research environment by offering computing facilities and informed assistance with computing and statistical problems. (The SSDAC Web page is at http://www.colorado.edu/IBS/DAC/.)
The computing facilities at SSDAC include two UNIX workstations and six X-window terminals that are networked to other campus workstations. These computers provide high-powered computing capabilities for IBS researchers who need to process and to store very large data sets. The SSDAC workstations are also used for specialized statistical and geographic information system (GIS) applications, and for electronic mail service and web access.
Other computer facilities include PCs that are linked to each other and to a high-speed line printer, PostScript and laser printers, external ZIP drives, a CD-ROM writer, and text and graphics scanners. The PCs are dedicated to statistical and GIS applications using Arc/Info, ArcView, SPSS, SAS, Stata, AMOS, MLwiN, SpaceStat, and InfoMap.
All PCs and UNIX X Window terminals are linked to a centralized campus UNIX workstation which is dedicated to statistical processing. This workstation offers access to additional statistical software such as LISREL, SUDAAN, Shazam, Gauss, and Mathematica.
Consultation and applications
work is provided by three analysts and one graduate student advisor
(pictured: Jani S. Little, Richard Cook, student advisor Nizam
Khan, Director James L. Little). Each has general expertise in
the support areas and specialized knowledge in computer hardware/software
operations, computer systems management and networking, or statistical
methods and analysis.
The director of SSDAC, James L. (Zeke) Little, brings to the center a background in pure mathematics, mathematical sociology, computer and data base programming, and systems management. He leads IBS in the area of personal computer technology. He sets up and maintains PC networks for IBS programs and troubleshoots PC hardware and software for Institute personnel. He continues to develop data base applications for specific IBS projects and to be the IBS resource person for GIS applications.
Richard Cook assists IBS researchers in a variety of statistical, computing, and networking applications. With a Ph.D. in social psychology and a background in research, he has extensive knowledge of statistical applications and software packages used in the social sciences. He also administers the UNIX workstations and X terminals at SSDAC and the Ethernet and Internet connections for IBS programs. He develops and maintains IBS web pages and the online version of the IBS Newsletter. He also offers instruction in the use of statistical software, UNIX and other operating systems, and web authoring software.
From a background that combines mathematical statistics and numerical analysis with sociology and geography, Jani Little offers Institute researchers technical assistance that is enhanced by her knowledge of the social sciences. She collaborates with IBS research faculty on projects that require customized statistical or numerical programming. She also provides routine assistance to personnel in the area of model building and choice of statistical method, and offers instruction in statistical software use. She serves as the key IBS person who coordinates data acquisition from archives such as ICPSR and IPUMS.