The Murphy Institute's Center for Public Policy Research (CPPR) invites Tulane researchers to access restricted U.S. Census data free of charge from the Atlanta Research Data Center (ARDC.)
In partnership with CPPR, Tulane has joined with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and other Southeastern universities to provide access to confidential, otherwise unavailable data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Center for Health Statistics, the Social Security Administration and other federal agencies.
What is the ARDC?
Located at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the ARDC is one of only 33 Federal Statistical Research Data Centers, secure U.S. Census Bureau facilities where researchers have access to restricted-use microdata for approved research projects. The ARDC provides qualified researchers around the Southeast, the opportunity to perform statistical analysis on nonpublic economic, demographic, and public health microdata provided by the U.S. Census Bureau or partner agencies. These include the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Research undertaken in these facilities informs policy in ways not possible with publicly available data. Information about what data researchers can access through FSRDCs can be found here.
The ARDC is supported by a partnership among the member institutions listed below:
- Tulane University
- Auburn University
- Clemson University
- Emory University
- Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Georgia State University
- University of Georgia
- University of South Carolina
- University of Tennessee
- Vanderbilt University
How do I access the ARDC?
Qualified researchers from Tulane University can submit proposals to access restricted-use data for authorized research projects. Researchers must develop a proposal, submit it for review by the applicable agency, and obtain Special Sworn Status. Once Special Sworn Status requirements are met, they can conduct research at the ARDC and will also have access to an onsite research assistant free of charge. As there are more than 30 RDC labs across the US, Tulane researchers will easily be able to work with colleagues at other universities associated with other RDCs. For information on RDCs nationwide, consult the Federal Statistical Research Data Centers website.
What are the fees for accessing data?
CPPR covers the cost for Tulane researchers to access the ARDC. This includes obtaining Special Sworn Status, proposal development, project management, disclosure avoidance review, access to an onsite research assistant, and using the lab itself. Note that some agencies (such as NCHS, BLS, and BEA) may assess a separate project fee for access to their data.
General Guidelines
Researchers must prepare a project proposal that meets the requirements of the agency responsible for the data that you propose to use. The ARDC Administrator will work with you to develop a proposal to use Census Bureau data.
Some data collected by the Census Bureau are based on surveys sponsored by other Federal agencies. Permission to access these data often requires concurrence from the source agency(s).
Once your project is approved by all relevant agencies, each researcher who will access the confidential data must obtain a moderate security clearance called Special Sworn Status (SSS). You are required to complete annual security training to maintain your SSS.
To be eligible to apply, researchers must be a U.S. citizen or a foreign national who has lived in the U.S. for at least three of the last five years. Access to some data may require U.S. citizenship.
Researchers undertaking approved research in the ARDC will be responsible for ensuring that they are in compliance with the Internal Review Board (IRB) policies and requirements of Tulane University.
The Census Bureau does not guarantee that other agencies will permit access to their data. ARDC researchers must abide by all Census Bureau confidentiality and disclosure analysis procedures, submit certain administrative reports, and provide copies of papers that emerge from their projects.
Howard-Tilton Library Guide to the ARDC
Further Information
See the ARDC website for information and links for writing and submitting proposals. For additional information, contact the ARDC Administrator, Chase Frederick, or the Center for Public Policy Research (CPPR) at murphy@tulane.edu.
ARDC Newsletter
Read the latest edition of the ARDC newsletter for new data sets available through the RDC network and a report of active and approved projects from ARDC member institutions.
Approved and Active Tulane Research Projects
See the ARDC website (atlantardc.org) for information and links for writing proposals.
- "Can Unexploited Monopsony Power Be Used to Counteract Income Tax Policy?"
Alexander Siebert and James Alm - “Assimilation of Hispanics and Arabs in America”
Hussain Hadah and Augustine Denteh (Davidson College) - “The Nationwide Effects of Charter School Entry on Long-Term Market-Level Student Outcomes”
Douglas Harris and Alexander Siebert
