Barcelona, 17-21 June 2024
Introduction
The Horizon 2020 project "Cohort community research and development infrastructure network for access throughout Europe" (COORDINATE) aims to increase the visibility and use of data regarding the wellbeing of children and adolescents in Europe. A total of three summer schools are being conducted to promote cohort panel research in Europe by facilitating researchers' access to relevant data platforms and teaching appropriate analysis techniques.
The third COORDINATE Summer School will be held at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, in Barcelona, from June 17-21, 2024. The focus is on learning and applying specific methods for the analysis of trajectories using sequence analysis and TraMineR. The programme includes modules on life course perspective, longitudinal methods, data analysis techniques and data structures, sequence analysis and typologies of sequences. It also includes an introductory and brief module on event history analysis that can be integrated with sequence analysis techniques. The analysis will be based on the Catalan Youth Survey dataset, an official statistic of the Catalan Government.
The event is open for up to 24 researchers working in EU Member States and Associated Countries. Up to 20 participants will have their travel and accommodation expenses reimbursed.
Objectives
Understanding the foundations and applications of longitudinal methods in social sciences.
Familiarising with the theoretical and methodological approach of the life course perspective.
Understanding the characteristics and structure of longitudinal data.
Describing and analysing data sequences using the basic functions of the R package TraMineR.
Creating typologies of sequences using single channel and multichannel sequence analysis.
Familiarising with the basic concepts of event history analysis and its relationship with sequence analysis.
Main dataset
The Catalan Youth Survey (EJC) is an official statistic of the Catalan Government that monitors the situation and needs of young people living in Catalonia. It is a quinquennial survey aimed at the population aged 15-34 and the 2022 edition has a sample of 3.600 individuals. The EJC focuses on youth transitions into adulthood and it has two batteries of retrospective questions about the educational career, on the one hand; and about the labour market trajectory (activity situation and occupational characteristics), on the other hand. The retrospective questions cover the period from 15 years old to the current age of the interviewed person. The dataset also contains variables on a wide range of topics that can be related to the educational and labour market trajectories.
Statistical tools
The course will be held using the R programming language within the RStudio environment, mainly with the TraMinerR package. Participants are requested to have a basic knowledge of R and the RStudio interface.
Venue
The course will be held in Campus Ciutadella (Ramon Trias Fargas street, n. 25-27) of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, in Barcelona.
Organizers
Slovenian Social Science Data Archives from the University of Ljubljana organize the course with the collaboration of the Catalan Youth Agency and the support of the JOVIS.com Research Group (Pompeu Fabra University) and of the Sociological Research Centre on Everyday Life and Work (Autonomous University of Barcelona).
Programme schedule
* Includes coffee break
Lecturers
Mireia Bolíbar
Mireia Bolibar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the same university. She has conducted research in several national and international institutions, including the Trinity College Dublin and the University of Bremen, as well as at the Pompeu Fabra University and the University of Barcelona. Her research lies on the topics of social capital, precarious employment and trajectories and inequalities in health, with an emphasis on migrants and young workers. She has experience with a range of methodologies, including mixed methods, social network analysis and longitudinal research methods – which she has applied mainly to the study of young adults’ labour career paths.
Alejandro González
Alejandro González is a Pre-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Sociology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. He is currently developing his PhD in Sociology with a FI grant within a project focused on the accumulation and use of social capital in young people with unstable labour trajectories, applying longitudinal techniques, mixed methods and quantitative approaches. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology (2010-2014) and a Master’s degree in Social Science Research (2014-2017). Before the PhD, he worked for two years as a freelance researcher on social research projects, focusing primarily on quantitative studies in the context of program evaluation (2015-2017). Subsequently, for nearly three years, he was employed at an international market research company, where he was involved in quantitative research projects (2017-2020).
Joan-Miquel Verd
Joan-Miquel Verd is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. He holds BAs in Political Science and Sociology and in Economics and Business Studies and a PhD in Sociology. His research interests focus on the Sociology of Work (labour market trajectories, social capital and employment, youth and the labour market) and Research Methods (social network analysis, mixed methods, longitudinal and sequential data analysis). He has participated in and directed various competitive projects (at Spanish and European level) interested in the employment situation of youth, active employment policies and social protection measures linked to the employment situation.
Application Process and Eligibility
A total of 24 participants will be selected based on research experience, scientific competence and analytical interest. Bursaries are available for up to 20 researchers working in EU Member States or Associated Countries (to max 1,500 EUR per person). Interested persons from the Barcelona Metropolitan Area and non-EU research institutes may apply but will have to cover their own accommodation and travel costs.
We welcome researchers from any stage of their academic career and from any academic field. However, applicants should have basic knowledge of quantitative research methods and statistical analysis. Notions of the R programming language are recommended but not mandatory.
Researchers from COORDINATE partner institutions who are not involved in the COORDINATE project are eligible to apply. However, as the objective of the project is to widen the network of researchers using child well-being data, only a limited number of places will be awarded to applicants from COORDINATE partner institutions.
PhD students are eligible to apply. However, master's or bachelor's students are not eligible.
Submission
Please fill in the application form. Additionally to the contact information, you will be asked to provide:
Short Curriculum Vitae (max 1 page).
Summary of relevant research experience, including a short assessment of your skills regarding statistical software packages (max ½ page).
Brief description of specific research interests, focusing on data analysis interests and needs (max ½ page).
Please state if you have participated in other activities of the COORDINATE project.
Applications must be received by the 3rd of April 2024.
Selection procedure
Priority will be given to established researchers in the field, and to applicants from low GDP countries. Gender balance and geographical diversity will also be taken into account.
The applications will be reviewed by a committee, which will score each application based on the information provided in the application form.
Applicants will be notified about the decision by the 16th of April 2024.
Contact
Administration (registration, bursaries, etc.): Ana Inkret, ana.inkret@fdv.uni-lj.si
Logistics (accommodation, arrival, etc.): Sara Molins, smolins@gencat.cat
Contents: Pau Serracant Melendres, pserracant@gencat.cat
