North Central Regional Dataset Now Available
NC
R-Stat is a North Central regional dataset being developed as a venue and incentive for interdisciplinary collaboration across states and across research and Extension. NCRCRD will maintain the baseline data and collect it across time. Along with the Advisory Board, NCRCRD will develop a policy for the dataset’s use and distribution. NCRCRD will collect data focused on regional household, business, and community wellbeing focused on the three themes, across time and space.
The purpose of the dataset is to decrease the barriers for institutions to study regional changes and conduct comparative research, as well as increase regional collaboration for both research and Extension. NCRCRD will facilitate regional collaboration for: survey development, data collection methods, data analysis that leads to publications, and educational curricula. The regional dataset will also enhance collaboration between high- and low-resource institutions across the region. Institutions could choose to oversample their states and researchers could provide funds to include focused topics to the survey.
Learn more:
- An Introduction to NCR-Stat – The Free Household Dataset webinar (recorded 12/7/22; 57 minutes) featuring Maria I. Marshall, NCRCRD Director and Zuzana Bednarik, NCRCRD Research and Extension Specialist who present the details to the dataset.
- Story Behind the Numbers articles (September 2022 – present) explore the region using the NCR-Stat dataset.
NCR-Stat and NCR-Stat: Baseline Survey Introduction
Introduction to the NCR-Stat
A North Central Region dataset (NCR-Stat) has been developed as a venue and incentive for interdisciplinary collaboration across land-grant universities in the North Central Region (NCR). The North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) maintains the baseline data and integrates them across time and space.
The NCRCRD collects household data emphasizing demography, economics, health, housing, community development, environment, and social behavior. The dataset includes primary economic and social data collected at the state level focused on households, businesses, and community wellbeing. In addition, the dataset contributes to the effort to understand the conditions and issues facing rural communities within the NCR in the three topical areas of NCRCRD: creating resilient communities and economies, developing leadership and civic engagement, and promoting community health and wellness.
Making this dataset available decreases the barriers for institutions to study regional changes and trends and conduct comparative research. Moreover, regional data collection encourages collaboration between research and Extension and high- and low-resource institutions across the region.
Moving forward, the NCRCRD will facilitate collaboration aimed at additional survey development, data collection method enhancement, and robust data analysis leading to publications and educational curricula. In addition, collaborating institutions may choose to oversample their states and provide funds to include focused topics in the survey.
Rural-Urban Classification Used by NCRCRD
Researchers, federal agencies, and policymakers may employ different definitions of rural and urban. For example, some definitions use population density as a defining factor. In other cases, it is geographic isolation or commuting patterns. This section highlights definitions of rural and urban used by the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) and emphasizes differences that exist between their defining criteria.
NCRCRD uses the U.S. Census Bureau’s and OMB’s delineations of rural and urban areas for research and statistical purposes. The definitions provided below are a short primer to the rural and urban distinctions between federal agencies.