Accessing data and documentation at ESDS
ESDS provides comprehensive information for each of the 5,000 plus datasets in its
Data Catalogue. Searching and browsing this information is free and does not require
registration. Access to the data requires registration.
Finding data
At ,
try these searches through the top tab and the links under the Finding data menu on the left hand side of the web page:
Free-text searches or searches on specific fields (e.g. Title,
Geography, UKDA Study Number)
can be made.
Task: Try entering health and see what studies you get.
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Task: Find new datasets and new editions of data released in the last month
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Each dataset is assigned one or more subject categories to reflect the overall subject
of the data at study level.
Task: To find studies about leisure, tourism
and sport, select the subject category Leisure, tourism and sport by ticking the box under Society and culture, and clicking on 'Go' at the bottom of the page.
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Each catalogue record contains a list of Keywords covering
major topics included in the data. Keywords are taken from the subject term thesaurus, HASSET, based at the UK Data
Archive.
Task: Try searching the HASSET thesaurus to find data on topics relating to Household
chores. While that term itself is not found in the thesaurus, alternative
search terms can be selected by clicking on Households in the list of matched terms. Use the 'Search on Keyword' button to find data collections containing this keyword.
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presents the most popular data collections and series. Dedicated
web pages provide quick and easy access to the data and documentation. The majority
of the series also have their own introduction, news and links pages.
Task: Locate the . Follow the
links to .
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Note: It is also possible to browse studies by .
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Exploring catalogue records
Task: Search the Catalogue for
Health Survey For England, 2008 (Study Number 6397).
Click on the Study Description/Documentation or SN 6397 link to display the and links to documentation, variables (if available),
keywords, publications, and related studies.
Consult the catalogue record to find out who sponsored the study, who
deposited the data, coverage (dates, country, regions etc.), and sampling and data collection
methodology.
Other sections within the body of the catalogue record include:
- Abstract - provides a brief overview of the study and the main topics covered
- Access - shows access conditions and availability of data
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Links to further sections are found along the top of the catalogue record:
- Keywords - subject keywords, taken from the HASSET thesaurus, reflecting the coverage
of the dataset. Selecting a term retrieves other datasets with the same term
- Variable List - variable labels and value labels within a dataset for a selection of survey datasets
- Publications - a bibliography of publications produced by the principal investigators and re-users of the data
- Related Studies - related datasets held in the Data Catalogue
Exploring variable lists
All variable labels and value labels can be searched for in the most popular datasets in the Data Catalogue.
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You can search for variables using the box, located via the Finding data menu.
Task: Try entering GP and see which studies are found.
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You can also browse the full variable list for a single study via the Data Catalogue.
Task: Search the Catalogue for the
Millennium Cohort Study First Survey 2001-2003 (Study Number 4683). View the catalogue
record and click on at the top of the
record.
Highlight variable 3 and click on below the box.
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A selected range of key survey series data is available in the ESDS Nesstar catalogue,
where metadata at codebook level, giving more detailed variable information as well
as full question text and survey statistics, can be explored.
Study documentation
usually consists
of a User Guide containing background details of the study and research methods,
including original instruments - e.g. questionnaires, coding information and fieldwork procedures.
Task: Search the Catalogue for Study Number 6397 and find the 'Documentation' section in the catalogue record.
Select the file . Explore the User Guide
using the bookmarks.
The
file contains the bibliographic citation for the dataset and an abbreviated catalogue
record.
The below the Documentation table describes how the data were
processed by the UK Data Archive and gives other important information not available in the user guides.
Consulting data listings for qualitative data collections
Each qualitative data collection has a 'Data list'. This provides important details
of the sample, for example, for interviews with people, basic biographical details and an indication of
length and file names of interview transcripts. For bigger studies it helps users to identify those items
most relevant to their research.
Task: Search the Catalogue for
Policing, Cultural Change and 'Structures of Feeling' in Post-War England, 1945-1999 (Study Number 4594).
In the Documentation table in the catalogue record select the Data list file:
Accessing data
User guides and other documentation can be accessed without registration. To access
data, registration is required and is a simple online process.
Register
- Use the Login link at the top of any ESDS web page.
- Complete the registration form and agree to the terms of the End User Licence.
- Receive a confirmation email. If prompted visit the web page indicated to complete
registration.
Most users can access a
large number of datasets and access conditions are provided in each catalogue record.
Census data and ESDS international macrodata are only available to users in
UK higher or further education (UK HE/FE). More information on how to log in is
available at
Access data
You can use the links in the catalogue record to access data. Examples
include:
- Download/Order - select a registered use of data or register a new use and then
download or order data by other media
- Explore Online - access frequencies and produce tables, graphs and subsets (available
for key survey series data only)
- Access data via ESDS International - produce tables and graphs from multi-nation
aggregate databanks (for international macrodata only)
- See access information - if data are not held at ESDS, information on where the
data are held
Charges
Data to be used for non-commercial purposes can be downloaded free of charge. However, charges apply
for commercial purposes. For all CD orders there are media, handling and postage
and packing fees. For details see:
Exploring data online
ESDS Nesstar Catalogue
Use the Explore Online links/icons via the Data Catalogue search or Major studies
to access the ESDS Nesstar Catalogue to view question text, frequencies, conduct simple online
tabulations, produce graphs and subsets. Available to all non-commercial users.
See guide:
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ESDS International macrodata online using Beyond 20/20
Access macro-economic time series data via Beyond 20/20 on the ESDS International
website. Beyond 20/20 Web Data Server (WDS) can be used to display, subset and download
data, runs on a standard web browser, and is accessibility compliant. Available
to users in UK HE/FE only.
See the series of software guides:
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ESDS Qualidata Online
Search and browse selected qualitative data. Full text interview transcripts can be searched and browsed.
For more details see:
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ESDS Government GIS
Explore and visualise data for England and Wales Vital
Statistics on fertility and mortality for 2001 using the interactive web-based geographical information system, CommonGIS.
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See the full range of ESDS online data analysis guides:
www.esds.ac.uk help@esds.ac.uk
E2 Accessing data and documentation at ESDS
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