ABOUT THE ANNUAL DATA CHALLENGE EXPO
The Annual Data Challenge Expo is jointly sponsored by three American Statistical Association (ASA) Sections – Statistical Computing, Statistical Graphics, and Government Statistics. The 2024 Data Challenge Expo will be held in conjunction with JSM 2024 in Portland, Oregon from August 3 - 8, 2024.
PARTICIPATION
The challenge is open to students and professionals from the private or public sector. Using statistical and visualization tools and methods, contestants will analyze the given data set(s).
AWARD CATEGORIES
There will be two award categories:
- Professional (one level with a $500 award)
- Student (three levels with awards at $1,500, $1,000, and $500)
To enter, contestants must do the following by February 1, 2024.
- Submit an abstract for a contributed Speed Poster session to the JSM 2024 website. Specify the Statistical Computing Section as the primary sponsor.
- Note: The period for submitting contributed abstracts is December 1, 2023 to February 1, 2024.
- Forward the JSM abstract submission email with abstract number, title, and authors to Edward Mulrow (mulrow-edward@norc.org) and Wendy Martinez (wendy.l.martinez@census.gov).
The abstract is a placeholder to ensure the contestant is included in the JSM 2024 program. Contestants will present their work in a speed poster session and judging will be based on the results of the analysis presented at the JSM in August 2024.
Presenters are responsible for their own JSM registration and travel costs, and any other costs associated with JSM attendance. Group submissions are acceptable. Following JSM, contestants may submit a paper describing their analysis and results to the open-access peer-reviewed Journal of Data Science https://jds-online.org/journal/JDS.
The challenge data set for 2024 is the General Social Survey, https://gss.norc.org/.
- The General Social Survey (GSS) is a nationally representative survey of adults in the United States that has been conducted since 1972. The GSS is primarily funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and conducted by the non-partisan and objective research organization NORC at the University of Chicago. The GSS is the single best source for sociological and attitudinal trend data covering the United States. It allows researchers to examine the structure and functioning of society in general, as well as the role played by relevant subgroups and to compare the United States to other nations. The GSS collects data on a variety of topics in contemporary American society to monitor and explain trends in opinions, attitudes, and behaviors. The General Social Survey (sometimes, General Social Surveys) is a series of nationally representative cross-sectional interviews in the United States that have occurred since 1972. The GSS collects data on contemporary American society to monitor and explain trends in opinions, attitudes, and behaviors. The GSS has adapted questions from earlier surveys, thereby allowing researchers to conduct comparisons for up to 80 years.
- A complete list of GSS variables and their availability can be found on the GSS Data Explorer at https://gssdataexplorer.norc.org/. The GSS also hosts a YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@GSS_NORC/playlists) with a GSS video series of educational videos featuring the GSS. This is a great place to start learning more about the data and coming up with ideas for the challenge. A document explaining the GSS and data fields is attached; it also includes some wonderful resources to get you started in your analysis.
Contestants must use the GSS data but are encouraged to combine additional data sets in their analysis. We encourage participants to be creative in their research questions, objectives, and analysis. Novel and interactive visualizations to explore the data are always of interest.
CONTACTS
For questions on the ASA Data Challenge Expo please reach out to Edward Mulrow (mulrow-edward@norc.org) or Wendy Martinez (wendy.l.martinez@census.gov)