Research lab helps answer questions about education

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/ribbon_cutting.jpg” caption=”Pictured at the grand opening ribbon-cutting, from left, Abigail Payne, Tier II Canada Research Chair in Public Economics, Ken Norrie, McMaster provost and vice-president academic, and Susan Elliott, dean of Social Sciences. Photo credit: Robert Tatl”]How does choice in public schooling affect student outcomes? What are the impacts of university based automatic scholarships on university choice? What makes for a successful transition from high school to university? How does government funding to charitable organizations affect the fundraising efforts of the organizations and the donors to these organizations?

These are just some questions researchers hope to answer with the development of the new Public Economics Data Analysis Laboratory that opened recently in Kenneth Taylor Hall, Rm. 118.

As part of a Canada Research Chair infrastructure support program, $1.1 million in funds will help equip and house the new facility led by McMaster economist Abigail Payne, a Canada Research Chair in Public Economics.

“The key significance of this lab is that it will really allow us to develop more complete measures and data sets to study various public economics issues,” says Payne. “Ultimately, we'll be able to tackle questions about key Canadian issues we haven't been able to tackle previously.”

Because the laboratory is secured, researchers will be provided with comprehensive data sets, many of which were unavailable in the past, Payne says. “All sensitive data will be protected by various measures of security. As a result, researchers will be able to build better data sets because they will have more information, and this will result in a higher quality and quantity of research.”

Additionally, the facility will encourage more research in Canadian public policy issues, provide training of undergraduate and graduate students and encourage the interaction among more researchers, says Payne.

The $1,143,068 grant for the development of the Research Data Laboratory for the Study of Canadian Public Economics Issues includes $457,227 from Ontario Innovation Trust, $457,227 from Canada Foundation for Innovation and $228,613 from McMaster.

The facility celebrated its grand opening on Sept. 30.

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[img_inline align="right" src="http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/ribbon_cutting.jpg" caption="Pictured at the grand opening ribbon-cutting, from left, Abigail Payne, Tier II Canada Research Chair in Public Economics, Ken Norrie, McMaster provost and vice-president academic, and Susan Elliott, dean of Social Sciences. Photo credit: Robert Tatl"]How does choice in public schooling affect student outcomes? What are the impacts of university based automatic scholarships on university choice? What makes for a successful transition from high school to university?  How does government funding to charitable organizations affect the fundraising efforts of the organizations and the donors to these organizations?<p><br />
<br />
These are just some questions researchers hope to answer with the development of the new Public Economics Data Analysis Laboratory that opened recently in Kenneth Taylor Hall, Rm. 118.<p><br />
<br />
As part of a Canada Research Chair infrastructure support program, $1.1 million in funds will help equip and house the new facility led by McMaster economist Abigail Payne, a Canada Research Chair in Public Economics.<p><br />
<br />
"The key significance of this lab is that it will really allow us to develop more complete measures and data sets to study various public economics issues," says Payne. "Ultimately, we&#039;ll be able to tackle questions about key Canadian issues we haven&#039;t been able to tackle previously."<p><br />
<br />
Because the laboratory is secured, researchers will be provided with comprehensive data sets, many of which were unavailable in the past, Payne says. "All sensitive data will be protected by various measures of security. As a result, researchers will be able to build better data sets because they will have more information, and this will result in a higher quality and quantity of research."<p><br />
<br />
Additionally, the facility will encourage more research in Canadian public policy issues, provide training of undergraduate and graduate students and encourage the interaction among more researchers, says Payne.<p><br />
<br />
The $1,143,068 grant for the development of the Research Data Laboratory for the Study of Canadian Public Economics Issues includes $457,227 from Ontario Innovation Trust, $457,227 from Canada Foundation for Innovation and $228,613 from McMaster. <p><br />
<br />
The facility celebrated its grand opening on Sept. 30.

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