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Spark: a centre for social research innovation connects researchers to the people, skills and tools needed to stand at the forefront of social research innovation. Through partnerships, training, and consultation, our mission is to engage with researchers and the community to expand methodological boundaries and harness the full power of social research to build a brighter world.
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Spark Services View Services
Spark offers a variety of services to support businesses, researchers, not-for-profits, and government offices.
Resources for Researchers Explore Resources
We offer toolkits for academic and non-academic communities to explore approaches to qualitative research methods.
Trainings & Workshops Discover Trainings
Training workshops are offered throughout the year for interested research students, staff, and faculty.
Secure Empirical Analysis Lab (SEAL) Learn More
SEAL provides a safe place to store and access confidential data for the purposes of research.
Brighter Spark Applied Research Brighter Spark
Brighter Spark uses cutting edge academic research methods to assist those working to solve social problems.
Qualitative Suite Learn More
Spark’s Qualitative Suite can be booked for research interviews and focus groups.
About Spark Learn More
Since 2019, Spark has grown rapidly to advance our commitment to quality and innovation in social research.
Facilities View Facilities
Spark has multiple facilities to help you tackle your social research projects.
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Upcoming Events
Join us for our weekly events featuring global researchers presenting their latest work in unique and engaging ways. These sessions, part of our ongoing series, have captivated audiences both in live presentations and through our extensive video archive. Discover more and stay updated on our events page.
Past Spark Talks
We hold weekly virtual talks by researchers from around the world doing interesting work in interesting ways. These Spark Talks have generated tremendous interest both live and in the video archives.
Previous Issues of Spark Connections
You can check out previous editions of our Spark Connections Newsletters below.
#095 Spark Connections Newsletter: November 7th 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: A survey on Spark services
#094 Spark Connections Newsletter: October 24th 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Highlighting Spark's small businesses for small business week
#093 Spark Connections Newsletter: October 10th 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Welcoming New PH.D Students to the CoLab
#092 Spark Connections Newsletter: September 26th 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Enhancing Research with NVivo – A New Opportunity
#091 Spark Connections Newsletter: September 12th 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Introducing Spark’s Newly Released Resource Toolkits: A Game-Changer for Researchers ; A Message from Dean Jeremiah Hurley About Spark
#090 Spark Connections Newsletter: August 29 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Get Ready for a Productive Year: New Equipment Available for Loan
#089 Spark Connections Newsletter: August 15 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Kickstart Your Research Journey: Why Now is the Perfect Time to Dive In
#088 Spark Connections Newsletter: August 1 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Spark Connections Newsletter: Celebrating Spark’s Achievements in 2023-2024
#087 Spark Connections Newsletter: July 18 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Meet the Spark Talks Speakers: Insights into the 2024-25 Lineup
#086 Spark Connections Newsletter: July 4 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Discover the Dynamic Research Facilities at Spark
#085 Spark Connections Newsletter: June 20 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Meet the Spark Talks Speakers: Insights into the 2024-25 Lineup
#084 Spark Connections Newsletter: June 6 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Nominations Open for Spark Talks Speakers – Join the Conversation!
#083 Spark Connections Newsletter: May 23 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Unlocking the Future of Secure Research Data with SEAL
#082 Spark Connections Newsletter: May 10 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Unveiling the Qualitative Suite, with a Limited Time Offer
#081 Spark Connections Newsletter: April 26th 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Spark Celebrates Community Engagement Day!
#080 Spark Connections Newsletter: April 11 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Data Champions Recognition and Certificate Session
#079 Spark Connections Newsletter: March 28 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Thank you for participating in this year's Spark Talk Series
#078 Spark Connections Newsletter: March 14 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: McMaster's Community-Engaged Research celebration
#077 Spark Connections Newsletter: February 29 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: New Research Data Management (RDM) planning tools for McMaster social sciences
#076 Spark Connections Newsletter: February 15 2024
Work with us - Information Technology Analyst position available
#075 Spark Connections Newsletter: February 1 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Save the date: Spark Talks, Winter 2024 lineup
#074 Spark Connections Newsletter: January 18 2024
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Enhancing Accessibility at the CoLab: A Commitment to Inclusivity and Innovation
#073 Spark Connections Newsletter: December 15 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Tis the Season from Spark:
#072 Spark Connections Newsletter: November 30 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Navigating Research Challenges with Spark's Research Conversations
#071 Spark Connections Newsletter: November 16 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: CoLab: The Heart of Our Community
#070 Spark Connections Newsletter: October 26 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Redefining Representation: A Step Beyond Tech Defaults
#069 Spark Connections Newsletter: October 12 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Enjoy Reading Week!
#068 Spark Connections Newsletter: September 28 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Thank you for attending our Open House!
#067 Spark Connections Newsletter: September 14 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Spark Open House
#066 Spark Connections Newsletter: August 31 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Spark Talks are back starting Sept 15th - Save the Date
#065 Spark Connections Newsletter: August 17 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Impact Evaluation Course sign ups are now live
#064 Spark Connections Newsletter: August 3 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: APPLY NOW - Brighter Spark is Hiring: Social Research Apprenticeships
#063 Spark Connections Newsletter: July 20 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Impact Evaluation Course sign ups are now live
#062 Spark Connections Newsletter: July 6 2023
Impact Evaluation Course sign ups are now live
#061 Spark Connections Newsletter: June 22 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: SEAL Hits the Road
#060 Spark Connections Newsletter: June 8 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Data Champs Info Session
#059 Spark Connections Newsletter: May 25 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Are you a Data Champion?
#058 Spark Connections Newsletter: May 11 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Reproducibility workshop/replication games
#057 Spark Connections Newsletter: April 27 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Reproducibility workshop/replication games
#056 Spark Connections Newsletter: April 13 2023
Social Research Short Courses
#055 Spark Connections Newsletter: March 30 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Social Research Short Courses
#054 Spark Connections Newsletter: March 16 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Social Research Short Courses
#053 Spark Connections Newsletter: March 2 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Social Research Short Courses
#052 Spark Connections Newsletter: February 16 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: The Spark CoLab Space & Our New User Agreement
#051 Spark Connections Newsletter: February 2 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: The Spark CoLab Space & Our New User Agreement
#050 Spark Connections Newsletter: January 19 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Reflecting on Our Research in Data Management
#049 Spark Connections Newsletter: January 5 2023
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Seeking Inspiring Community-Engaged Researchers
#048 Spark Connections Newsletter: December 22 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Welcoming the Holiday Season with Spark!
#047 Spark Connections Newsletter: December 8 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Welcoming back our Academic Director, Michelle Dion!
#046 Spark Connections Newsletter: November 24 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Join Our Team
#045 Spark Connections Newsletter: November 10 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Sending our Condolences
#044 Spark Connections Newsletter: October 27 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Spark's Videography Session
#043 Spark Connections Newsletter: October 13 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Join the Spark Team as the Brighter Spark Manager!
#042 Spark Connections Newsletter: September 29 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Spark Open House
#041 Spark Connections Newsletter: September 15 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Spark's Annual Open House
#040 Spark Connections Newsletter: September 1 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Spark Talks is back starting Sept 16th - Save the Date
#039 Spark Connections Newsletter: August 18 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Spark's Annual Open House - Save the Date
#038 Spark Connections Newsletter: August 4 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Spark's Annual Open House - Save the Date
#037 Spark Connections Newsletter: July 21 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Spark collaborator launches the Black Women's Visions Website
#036 Spark Connections Newsletter: July 7 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Welcome Lisa Kaida as Spark's Acting Academic Director
#035 Spark Connections Newsletter: June 23 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Welcome the new SEAL Lab Manager - Lily Wang
#034 Spark Connections Newsletter: June 9 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: The Spark Co-Lab is open!
#033 Spark Connections Newsletter: May 26 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: The Spark Co-Lab is Re-Opening!
#032 Spark Connections Newsletter: May 12 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Warm Welcomes & Bittersweet Goodbyes at Spark
#031 Spark Connections Newsletter: April 28 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Identity in Research
#030 Spark Connections Newsletter: April 14 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Identity in Research
#029 Spark Connections Newsletter: March 31 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Identity in Research
#028 Spark Connections Newsletter: March 17 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Identity In Research Series
#027 Spark Connections Newsletter: March 3 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Work with Us! Administrative Assistant for Spark
#026 Spark Connections Newsletter: February 17 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Spark Events - Winter Schedule 2022
#025 Spark Connections Newsletter: February 3 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Spark Events - Winter Schedule 2022
#024 Spark Connections Newsletter: January 20 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Happy 1 year Anniversary to Spark!
#023 Spark Connections Newsletter: January 6 2022
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Welcome Back!
#022 Spark Connections Newsletter: December 9 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Happy Holidays!
#021 Spark Connections Newsletter: November 25 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Part 2- Algorithmically-Encoded Identities
#020 Spark Connections Newsletter: November 11 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Spots still available: Algorithmically-Encoded Identities
#019 Spark Connections Newsletter: October 28 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Register now - Algorithmically-Encoded Identities
#018 Spark Connections Newsletter: October 14 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: SAVE THE DATE: Algorithmically-Encoded Identities
#017 Spark Connections Newsletter: September 30 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Spark’s Annual Open House Event
#016 Spark Connections Newsletter: September 16 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Spark’s Annual Open House Event
#015 Spark Connections Newsletter: September 2 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Spark is so excited to introduce our new full-time Administrative Assistant, Rana El-Bahrani
#014 Spark Connections Newsletter: August 26 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Save the Date! Spark's Annual Open House Event
#013 Spark Connections Newsletter: August 5 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Making Your Work Accessible
#012 Spark Connections Newsletter: July 22 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Whose Research Excites You?
#011 Spark Connections Newsletter: July 8 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Whose Research Excites You?
#010 Spark Connections Newsletter: June 24 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Who do you want to speak at Spark’s Fall 2021 speaker series?
#009 Spark Connections Newsletter: June 10 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Who do you want to speak at Spark’s Fall 2021 speaker series?
#008 Spark Connections Newsletter: May 27 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Who do you want to speak at Spark’s Fall 2021 speaker series?
#007 Spark Connections Newsletter: May 13 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: New research guide - Pandemic-friendly Qualitative Research
#006 Spark Connections Newsletter: April 29 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: New research guide - Pandemic-friendly Qualitative Research
#005 Spark Connections Newsletter: April 15 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Intensive 2-week course on Data Wrangling in R
#004 Spark Connections Newsletter: April 1 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Relevant Research Series
#003 Spark Connections Newsletter: March 18th 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: Social Sciences Inter-departmental Trivia
#002 Spark Connections Newsletter: March 4th 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: SAVE THE DATE! Intensive 2 week course on Data Wrangling in R
#001 Spark Connections Newsletter: February 17, 2021
Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. Featured news this edition: 1st Annual Open House