Learning and Teaching
ESDS Qualidata can help advise teachers and students on many aspects of using data resources in lectures and for self-study. The following
resources provide a starting point:
ESDS Qualidata is always looking for partnerships with academics and researchers to create new resources for learning and teaching based on either
specific data collections or on comparative sources. It is also especially keen to begin working to create materials using data from
mixed methods studies.
To suggest ideas or collaborate please email Louise Corti.
Use of data in learning and teaching
The use of real life data in teaching adds interest and relevance to courses, and, if the data are updated on a regular basis, ensures
that the courses are pertinent to current issues. Students who gain their experience of data analysis from the use of specially constructed
data rarely have a good understanding of the complexity of data analysis in the 'real' world. An appreciation of this complexity through
the use of unadulterated data can give appropriate training for applied careers. Students also have the opportunity to understand the
rationale for collecting data and can develop critical faculties to judge the strengths and weaknesses of particular data. Data can be
chosen to be of particular relevance to the subject being taught and thus can bring both substantive and methodological topics alive. If
access to the data is obtained via ESDS Qualidata at the UK Data Archive (UKDA) then information is also provided on the main publications resulting
from the data and thus students can use the data in conjunction with associated publications.
Use of documentation
ESDS Qualidata provides access to both data and documentation, and increasingly the value of the documentation is being recognised as a
resource in its own right. It can be used to train students in data collection methods and to provide model surveys which the students
might copy or adapt. For example, it might be feasible to involve students in conducting their own small interviewing project and then
comparing their results with a set of interviews that has been archived.
Holdings
Users can ascertain whether ESDS Qualidata can provide data of interest to them by searching the data catalogue online.
The catalogue can be searched by title, subject keyword,
theme and person or organisation associated with the study. Alternatively, users can
see the section on other data providers to view
other sources of locating data. If data of relevance cannot be located, it is worth contacting ESDS Qualidata staff who have knowledge
about existing sources of data and who are skilled in using the searching facilities of the catalogue. If the required data are not
held, ESDS Qualidata acquisitions staff will help to try to obtain them on behalf of potential users. Contact the help desk with enquiries.
Media
Data obtained via the UKDA are delivered to users on media convenient to them - this can include custom-made CD-ROMs or file transfers
over the internet. For collections that are only accessible via another archive, ESDS Qualidata staff can obtain limited data in
machine-readable form.
Charges
Charges for the data service are levied according to the funding source for the research or teaching. For the vast majority of teaching
purposes there is no charge, unless courses are run for profit.
Substantive research
ESDS Qualidata attempts to locate and make accessible a broad range of social, behavioural and historical data which may be used to address
many substantive topics. Such data may be used in conjunction with the main publications arising from the analysis conducted by the
study's originators. Students could be asked to replicate research already conducted, to extend this research or to examine the data
from an entirely different perspective. By using the data directly, students gain a good appreciation of the limitations and variations
amongst different data collection and analysis techniques.
Methodological issues
As indicated above, there are rich veins of data to be tapped to assist in the teaching of the analysis of data and their use particularly
within the policy process. In addition, the data can be used in teaching about various methodological issues connected with the collection
of data. These could include issues relating to sampling, such as: sample size and representativeness; topic guide construction and
unstructured questioning techniques; coding systems; transcription techniques by comparing a transcript with the tape-recorded interview.
For further details about using data in learning and teaching, consult the
help desk.
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