An Introduction to the Social Science Databases

1. An Introduction to the Social Science Databases Social Sciences Research and Instructional Council California State University, FullertonSeptember 24, 2005

2. Facilitators • Ed Nelson, SociologyCSU Fresno • John Korey, Political ScienceCal Poly, Pomona • Mike Reibel, GeographyCal Poly, Pomona

3. Acknowledgements • {Add names and affiliations}

4. Workshop Agenda • Overview • Using ICPSR data and its web site • Using Field data and the Berkeley archive • Using Roper data • Using the data for teaching • A Brief Introduction to SPSS • Lunch • Individual questions and help

5. SSRIC • The Social Sciences Research and Instructional Council • Oldest CSU discipline council • Founded in 1972 • Representatives from CSU campuses meet three times per year • Negotiates with data providers for access to data • Promotes use of data analysis in research and teaching

6. SSRIC • The Social Sciences Research and Instructional Council • 1. Sponsors an annual spring student research conference (at CSUN in 2006) • 2. Sponsors travel to ICPSR summer workshops in Ann Arbor, MI • http://www.icpsr.com/training/summer/index.html • 3. Works with Field Research • Allocates question credits to California Field Poll • Selects a faculty fellow • Selects a student intern

7. Social Science Databases • The California State University subscribes to a number of social science databases • To support • Teaching • Research • Administration • Available to campuses by annual subscription

8. SSRIC Websitehttp://www.ssric.org

9. Social Science Databases • Assistance from the SSRIC • Note: SSRIC members are not staff data consultants or technical assistance providers, but we will do what we can to help students, faculty and staff to access data • Campus representative: • {Name & contact for specific campus} • Other council members: {update link to web page w/ SSRIC contact info}

10. Social Science Data Bases • Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) • Field data • Roper data

11. ICPSR • Primary social science data archive for the U.S. • Founded in 1962, CSU joined in 1972 • Currently over 500 member institutions worldwide • Services • Vast data archive accessible via web engine (ICPSR Direct) • Summer program • Instructional resources

12. http://www.icpsr.com

13. ICPSR Data Access • Data use tutorial • Finding data • Social science variables database • Special topic archives • Online Data Analysis (DAS) • SIMI

14. Using ICPSR Direct • Locate the data you want to download • Click on Data Access & Analysis • Under Search, type in the key words Census

15. Using ICPSR Direct • Locate the data you want to download • Select search options: all fields, title, or study/no. • Click on search Census

16. Using ICPSR Direct

17. Using ICPSR Direct Advanced Search Census

18. Selecting the Study to Download • For each study, you will see links to description, downloads, and related literature • Select the study you want to download • Click on download

19. Downloading the Data • If you don’t have a password, click on create account and create your password • You will be asked for your email address and your password

20. Downloading the Data • You will be asked to complete a brief form the first time you use ICPSR Direct • If you forget your password, there is a place to click and it will be emailed to you

21. Select the files to download under Step 2. by clicking on the box or boxes Select Step 3. Add to data cart Select Step 4. Review cart

22. If all is OK select the Download Data Cart button

24. Accessing ICPSR Direct from Off Campus {Only If Set Up Locally} • This works just like library data bases such as J-Stor or Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe. • Go to: {Insert campus specific library database access URL} • Click on “ICPSR,” and log in with your name, ID, and Library PIN.

25. Resources • Data use tutorialhttp://www.icpsr.com/help/newuser.html

26. Resources • Ilona Einowski’s article on ICPSR Directhttp://www.icpsr.umich.edu/org/publications/bulletin/spr03.pdf. • Ilona Einowski’s article on ICPSR Directhttp://www.icpsr.umich.edu/org/publications/bulletin/spr03.pdf.

27. Accessing the Field Poll

28. The Field (California) Pollhttp://www.field.com • Established in 1947 • Independent, non-partisan survey of California public opinion Mervin Field • Wide range of political and social topics • Multiple polls each year

29. Accessing Field Data • News Releases and California Opinion Indexes are text summaries • Working with the poll data requires obtaining the poll data sets • CSU accesses Field data sets through UCData at U.C. Berkeley

30. Accessing Field Data • Accessing data involves: • Setting up your browser • Finding polls and data sets • Downloading data sets

31. Setting up your browser • Requires setting passive FTP access • Optionally set up for folder view or FTP directory view • See the handout for details • You will only need to do this once for your browser and user account

32. Accessing UCData for Download • Click the Data link on the left side • Go to the UCData web site (http://ucdata.berkeley.edu) • Click the CSU Only/Field Polls link in the FTP navigation column (left side)

33. Accessing UCData for Download tuition

34. For folder view • Open the corresponding folder/directory in the Retrieve Data window • Open the files by double clicking

35. Downloading the Data Sets • For folder view • Download the open file by choosing the Save option *You may be able to download without opening by dragging the file icons to a folder on your hard drive.

36. For FTP directory view • Select the folder/directory in the Retrieve Data window. • From the Folder Tasks menu select the Copy this folder option. Other Copy options will also work.

37. Finding Data Sets • Field News Releases and California Opinion Indexes • The American Public Opinion Index • UC San Diego CALPOLL Index searchable web site

38. Finding the Data Sets • Find the poll number • News Releases • American Public Opinion Index • The CALPOLL window • Open the corresponding folder/directory in the Retrieve Data window

39. Using Roper Data

40. Roper Center Home Page • http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/ Some links might be useful for class discussions on polling and sampling

41. Searching for Data Sets • Point to Quick Links and then to Search for Data Sets

42. Searching for Data Sets • Specify • Keywords • Date range • Country • Survey organization religion 1/1/2000 • Search for religion from 1/1/2000 to today’s date in the United States

43. Reviewing the Data Sets • Click on the study number USPEW2003-RELIG for more information • Get more information for Click on the codebook and look at it • If you want to order this data set, write down the survey number and the title

44. Reviewing the Data Sets • To get more information Click on the codebook in the Documentation table and look at it • If you want to order this data set, write down the survey number and the title

45. Ordering the Data Set • Coming October 1: RoperExpress • Meantime: Email Ed Nelson atednelson@csufresno.edu • Include • Study number • Title

46. iPOLL • Data base of over 500,000 questions • Includes frequency distributions allowing students to do trend analysis online • You will not need a user name or password since the CSU will be IP authenticated

47. Searching iPOLL • Search for keyword • Click on Boolean or Wildcard for help • Let’s search for relig% • Select the topic of religion • Use date from 1/1/2000 to today’s date

48. Reviewing iPOLL Results • Click on the questions you want to view • Click on view selections for the question wording and frequencies

49. Using the Data for Teaching

50. Survey Documentation and Analysis (SDA) Program • Written at UC Berkeley • Used by ICPSR and others-- referred to as DAS (Data Analysis System) • Data files must be converted to SDA format before use. ICPSR has converted a number of data sets in their topical archives into SDA format and are converting more.