The PRI Library has received an announcement from the European Survey Research Association for the publication of their online journal Survey Research Methods. The journal is available free to all at www.surveymothods.org. For a complete list of journals and newsletters at the PRI Library click here.

The Key Indicators Survey (KIS), a new tool from MEASURE DHS, is designed to collect population-based data comparable to the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for sub-national areas. The tool includes six questionnaires and guidance manuals.

The Compendium of Best Practices in Poverty Measurement (PDF) describes poverty measurement practices around the world. The handbook was published last month by the Expert Group on Poverty Statistics (Rio Group) and represents a collaboration between country representatives and international groups.

The New York Times examines race issues in health research, and whether racial disparities are due to genetic or social differences (July 4, 2006).

A policy analysis conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services affirms that it is legal to collect and report health quality data by patient race and ethnicity, and calls for government guidelines to further encourage and shape the practice. For more, read the RWJF news release or the full report, The Legality of Collecting and Disclosing Patient Race and Ethnicity Data (PDF).

A new publication from the Population Council, Ethical Approaches to Gathering Information from Children and Adolescents in International Settings: Guidelines and Resources (PDF), provides guidance for investigators gathering and analyzing information about children and adolescents. The focus of the publication is on HIV/AIDS program evalutation in international settings.

A recent online edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education includes an article on the IRB review process, and how to “Play it Safe” - ensuring that valuable research contributions are not blocked from entering professional communication channels (journals, books, presentations, etc.). This article also addresses common complaints (often heard here at Penn State) regarding the IRB process - such as the issue of regulatory overkill in the case of secondary data usage. However, please be advised that while the process can be at times both cumbersome and seemingly unnecessary - rules are indeed, still rules.

Excerpt: “Whatever your thoughts on the wisdom of current practices, be aware that these boards are powerful. They can prevent you from publishing data gathered for a project that was not submitted for consideration. They cannot grant retroactive approval for a project already under way. You might have to forfeit all data collected during your preapproval activities.”

Full text of the article available here.