Data access opportunity

Spirituality and Health Survey is one of the largest studies to be conducted on the relationship between religion and health. With $8.5 million in funding from the John Templeton Foundation a representative nationwide survey of adults of all ages was conducted in 2014 (N = 3,005). A detailed battery of questions on religion and health were administered. In addition, data on a range of biomarkers were obtained (e.g., blood pressure, BMI, IL-6, hemoglobin A1C, C-reactive protein).

The core research team (Neal Krause, Robert Emmons, Peter Hill, Gail Ironson, and Kenneth Pargament) would like to make these data available to five new investigators (i.e., scholars who are not more than three years beyond the PhD degree or equivalent). Please note that you must have the PhD in hand when you apply for this data access opportunity. ABD candidates are not eligible. If you are interested in gaining access to these data, please go to the study website. All the information on the study is contained on the website including the questionnaire, a description of the sample and a listing of the biomarker data that were obtained.

Application for access to the data should be made solely through the study website. You will be asked to write a brief proposal of no more than three single-spaced pages that outlines a specific plan of analysis. You will also be asked to provide your contact information. Proposals will not be accepted after Dec. 1, 2015.

The proposals will be reviewed by the members of the core research team. Authors of the five best applications will be notified no later than Feb. 1, 2016. These individuals will be invited to attend a meeting in Miami that will take place from May 13-15, 2016. All travel expenses, lodging and meals will be covered by the grant.

During the first day of the meeting, each young investigator will be paired with a member of the core research team. The core team member and the young investigator will conduct the proposed analyses. On the second day each young investigator will present the findings from their analyses to the group for their feedback. Fitchett, Levin and Oman will also be present during the second day to provide their comments.

After the meeting, the core team member and the young investigator will prepare the analyses for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.