Data On The Net

Items grouped under the heading Data are typically links to one or more large data files suitable for anlysis with statistical software or, in some cases, spreadsheet or database software. (Contrast with items grouped under the heading Statistics which are typically aggregate numbers that you can read without statistical software.

Typically, Data items are not usable without software; that is, they are not tables that you can read with your eye in your web browser.

The format of the data files is typically one of the following:

• raw ascii text
• SAS or SPSS system or portable files
• spreadsheet files

In addition, data files are often supplied in compressed formats such as zip.

Usually, these files are accompanied by documentation detailing the contents and layout of the data file. You need the documentation to use the data. Documentation may include one or more of the following:

• a "codebook"
• SPSS or SAS data definitions statements
• a "data dictionary"
• a "record layout" file
• a "data map"

For additional information about using data files, see one of these:

Introduction to the Social Sciences Data Collection http://ssdc.ucsd.edu/ssdc/browse/soc103m.html by Doug Tower from UC San Diego, Data Services. Introduction to Data Handling http://www.spc.uchicago.edu/DATALIB/DLguides/Gdathand.html from the SRC Data Library, University of Chicago Getting from Raw Data to Your Research Question http://www.columbia.edu/acis/eds/instruct/using_data.html from Columbia University, Electronic Data Service. Includes: "Reading Raw Data into a Statistical Packages" (SPSS and SAS). Other items in the Instructonal Section of Data on the Net http://odwin.ucsd.edu/... from UC San Diego, Data Services. Glossary of Selected Social Science Computing Terms and Social Science Data Terms http://odwin.ucsd.edu/glossary/. from UC San Diego, Data Services.