Some comments on using research data in the social sciences

Paul Lambert, School of Applied Social Science, University of Stirling,

25 March 2013

1) Primary research data• Surveys, transcripts,

by-product data (smallish scale) Well catered for – UK Data

Archive & institutional support for back-up / storage

3) Data on & supplementing the research process– Log-books exist but in varying formats

with few agreed standards

2) Secondary research data

Freese, J. (2007). Replication Standards for Quantitative Social Science: Why Not Sociology? Sociological Methods and Research, 36(2), 153-171.

(2) Secondary research dataTypically large surveys with lots of cases & lots of measures available on them

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On-going data management challenges- Data providers’ conditions - Remote access labs don’t work well (yet)- Multiple local copies proliferate- Too large for network drives- Software documentation encouraged, supporting replication, but not widespread (yet)

(3) Data on & supplementing the research process

• Data documentation through software files can record…– Amendments to existing data– Replication of analysis – Use of supplementary data – Substantial need for training and for enforcement (Some projects at Stirling try to do this!)

• Derived research resources concerning complex measures – e.g. coding algorithms; statistical analysis scripts; new

measures and aggregate level data files– Often have a direct interest in promoting data to others – Current model is haphazard distribution of data files from

author’s own webpage (e.g. www.camsis.stir.ac.uk!)

E.g.: DAMES (www.dames.org.uk) provides online services for data coordination/organisation

Specialist data resources on occupations, educational qualifications and ethnicity

GEMDE: uses Liferay and bespoke database management.

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The data curation tool (GEODE/GEEDE)

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The curation tool obtains metadata and supports the storage and organisation of data resources in a more generic way (‘DDI’ format metadata)

It includes an ‘IRODS’ file storage system allowing users to upload files and access their own and others’ files

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Tools for storing & sharing data, and rating/commenting on resources

DAMES was one of several ESRC projects trying to improve support for handling research data resources via innovative computing solutions – efforts are ongoing

Summary claims on using research data in the social sciences

1) Primary research data Everything’s fine already

2) Secondary research data Research works well so far (but often isn’t compliant

with recommended practice)3) Data on and supplementing the research

process Poor / haphazard practices at present Efforts on-going, from many quarters, to raise

standards