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Data Science

Report

How Different Sampling Methods Paint Vastly Different Pictures of Recidivism, and Why It Matters for Policy

In this paper, the authors argue that the recidivism statistics cited most often in debates about the collateral consequences of conviction overrepresent the behaviors of frequent recidivists and so are not appropriate evidence in those debates.

Jan 6, 2022
Blog

What Sounds Do a Million Random Digits Make?

The title of RAND's 1955 classic, A Million Random Digits with 100,000 Normal Deviates, doesn't exactly dance off the page. But Paul Dunham, a sound artist in New Zealand, thought the work could make its own kind of music.

Jan 5, 2022
Report

Using social media data to 'nowcast' international migration around the globe

The aim of this study was to develop a tool to 'nowcast' migrant stocks by using real-time data from the Facebook Marketing Application Programming Interface (API) and official migration data from EU member states and states in the United States.

Dec 16, 2021
Journal Article

Modelling the Impact of Social Distancing and Targeted Vaccination on the Spread of COVID-19 Through a Real City-Scale Contact Network

We use mobile device data to construct empirical interpersonal physical contact networks in the city of Portland, Oregon, both before and after social distancing measures were enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dec 15, 2021
Journal Article

Best Practices in Statistical Computing

In this paper, we describe the key steps for implementing a code quality assurance process that researchers can follow to improve their coding practices throughout a project to assure the quality of the final data, code, analyses, and results.

Dec 8, 2021
Report

An Exploratory Analysis of Trends in Text Data from Congressional Oversight Hearings

Trends in what is said in congressional committees could signal the emergence of issues for policymakers. In this Perspective, researchers describe a proof of concept for how to acquire and begin analyzing congressional text data for policy analysis.

Dec 8, 2021
Report

The Origin and Evolution of the RAND Corporation's Terrorism Databases: Defining and Building a New Field of Knowledge

Two pioneers in terrorism research recount their experiences, challenges, achievements, and lessons learned, exploring the evolution of databases about terrorist incidents, groups, individual attributes, and mindsets, with eyes on what might be next.

Nov 30, 2021
Journal Article

Assessment of State and Federal Health Policies for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

Researchers summarize the multitude of ways access to and utilization of treatment for individuals with OUD might have been expanded by state and federal policy during COVID-19 pandemic in 4 key areas: telehealth, privacy, licensing, and medication.

Nov 23, 2021
Commentary

Reining in COVID-19 Disinformation from China, Russia, and Elsewhere

During the pandemic, misinformation and conspiracy theories have spread more virulently than ever before. The vast scale of the problem means scalable solutions like machine learning could be needed to rein in the bots, trolls, and conspiracy theories being spread by bad-faith actors.

Nov 19, 2021
Journal Article

Lessons from Harvey: Improving Traditional Damage Estimates with Social Media Sourced Damage Estimates

Social media systems were incredibly active during disasters. Traditional sources such as the initial FEMA damage estimates can miss areas of heavy impact. This study provides a novel use case in crisis informatics.

Nov 16, 2021
Report

Tracking News Manipulation by Malicious State Actors

During the pandemic, both Russia and China used authoritarian power over the media to manipulate the news. What can be done to better detect such propaganda campaigns—and guard against them in the future?

Nov 15, 2021
Journal Article

A Truth Serum for Your Personal Perspective on Facial Recognition Software in Law Enforcement

The authors suggest that it is important to separate the use of facial recognition for forensics and mass surveillance.

Nov 10, 2021
Journal Article

The Role of Mobility Data Hubs in an Integrated Decarbonized Transportation Future

This paper identifies key players and data architectures emerging in a service-based mobility market, explores use cases where data hubs have enabled greater outcomes, and discusses key issues that need to be resolved to leverage emerging hubs towards a sustainable future.

Nov 5, 2021
Journal Article

Use of Real-World Evidence for Regulatory Approval and Coverage of Medical Devices: A Landscape Assessment

Use of real-world evidence in FDA processes has the potential to contribute important evidence to drug approval processes.

Nov 3, 2021
Journal Article

Transforming Public Health Data Systems: White Papers to Inform Commission

RWJF commissioned RAND to produce a series of white papers that describe the current landscape, emerging innovations, and opportunities for transforming and transitioning to a new public health data system.

Oct 20, 2021
Brochure

Select RAND Research on the Information Environment: 2014-2020

This volume is an important resource for anyone who is interested in gaining an informed understanding of operations in the information environment.

Oct 7, 2021
Journal Article

Comparison of Criminal-History Information Systems in the United States and Other Countries

This addresses the uses and sources of criminal-history records, procedures for assessing accuracy and completeness, efforts to improve the systems, and availability of records for operational and research purposes.

Sep 24, 2021
Multimedia

Data-Driven Solutions for Preventing Veteran Suicide

An overview of testimony by Rajeev Ramchand presented before the House Veterans' Affairs Committee on September 22, 2021.

Sep 22, 2021
Testimony

Suicide Prevention for U.S. Veterans: The Need for Data-Driven Solutions

What can be done to prevent veteran suicide in America? Investments in data and science may be the key. Strategies including improving the national mortality data infrastructure and collecting better data on veteran firearm ownership could help save veterans’ lives.

Sep 22, 2021
Journal Article

The Value of Consent for Biobanking

Biobanks facilitate large-scale tests of hypotheses that may advance health, but whether biobanking participants adequately comprehend the potential uses of their data should concern researchers and the public.

Sep 21, 2021

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RAND Topic:
Data Science

Topic Synonyms:
Data Bases