Data and Analytics

Our expert data analysts and scientists provide a range of data-related services equipping researchers – both within the Institute and in government, academia and industry – with the evidence required for informed decision-making.

Data underpins everything we do at the Melbourne Institute. The ability to derive meaning from data is an essential component of social and economic research. Data allows us to accurately identify how policy and individual behaviour interact. But to be effective and reliable, data must be treated and stored in the most ethical, rigorous and secure way.

Our expertise

  • End-to-end data analytics

    Members of our data and analytics team are highly skilled and come from a variety of backgrounds spanning industrial and academic research, in the fields of applied economics and social sciences, statistics, engineering and data science.

    Our in-house expertise has allowed us to cultivate an innovative data analytics environment at the Institute. Our data and analytics team members support project delivery and enable researchers to derive meaningful insights from multiple sources of data, ranging from survey data and administrative data to non-traditional sources. The team also provide technical assistance in data management practice and data storage solutions.

    We have expertise in:

    • Data pre-processing (including assessment of data quality, data cleaning and imputation of new variables) for further research analysis
    • Conducting research analysis using a vast selection of analytical tools ranging from descriptive analytics to emerging areas such as machine learning, modelling and predictive analytics
    • Data development to create data assets fit for primary and secondary use
    • Constructing, developing surveys and conducting surveys, field experiments and randomised control trials
    • The use of data visualisation to create engaging and innovative platforms that effectively communicate research analysis results
    • Collection and monitoring of non-traditional data sources through automation and web scraping.
  • Enabling better data sharing for faster research

    The Melbourne Institute manages a wide range of government, NGO and private sector stakeholders, and home to primary data sources, including:

    We developed the Melbourne Institute Data Lab (MIDL) to provide data services that enable secure and faster research that informs Australian economic and social policy. The MIDL allows researchers from any organisation within Australia to remotely access a secure data environment that is built with the highest standards of data protection. Through the use of ‘shared data environments’, the MIDL allows approved data users to bring in a range of data to undertake richer and deeper analyses of the issues that affect Australia.

    For more information about the MIDL, please see click here .

  • Training tomorrow’s social scientists

    The Melbourne Institute Foundation Fellow Program is a program designed to bring university graduates with an interest in data analysis and a passion for evidence-based policy to work side-by-side with our world class researchers on policy-relevant research.

    The Foundation Fellow position is a two-year program with a focus on developing key skills and experience whilst adding value to Melbourne Institute research projects. As part of this program, the Melbourne Institute Data and Analytics team conducts the Foundation Fellow Training Program that provides training on key skills that will also be relevant for the Foundation Fellow’s future career aspirations in academia and/or industry. Key skills in data management, research ethics and best practice, best programming practices and statistical disclosure control are just a few of the topics covered under this training program.

Program Details

Team

Program Coordinator: Dr. Rajeev Samarage

Research staff