Comparative Survey Research and Study Documentation Needs The Data Archive Perspective

IISP Conference: From National Archives towards United Structure of Social Science. Moscow, December 9, 2005

Comparative Survey Research and Study Documentation Needs

The Data Archive Perspective

Brigitte HaussteinBrigitte HaussteinGESIS/Central Archive for Empirical Social Research, Cologne/BerlinGESIS/Central Archive for Empirical Social Research, Cologne/Berlin


Topics

1. Comparative Survey Research

2. Study Documentation and Metadata

3. Documenting a Comparative Survey Series


Comparative Survey ResearchComparative Survey Research

identifyidentify analyse analyse explain similarities and differencesexplain similarities and differences

across societiesacross societies

Comparative research methods are used Comparative research methods are used in cross-cultural studies to:in cross-cultural studies to:


Comparative Survey ResearchComparative Survey Research

“… “… are methodological and strategically are methodological and strategically much more important than other studies: They much more important than other studies: They offer a much better basis for offer a much better basis for serious and serious and systematic consideration of comparabilitysystematic consideration of comparability and and equivalence issuesequivalence issues, of questions about the , of questions about the logic of cross-national and cross-culture logic of cross-national and cross-culture researchresearch design, and of the design, and of the organizational organizational optionsoptions in such undertakings.” in such undertakings.”

Rokkan (1969): Rokkan (1969): Comparative surveys Comparative surveys


Comparative Survey ResearchComparative Survey Research EurobarometerEurobarometer European/World Values Survey (WVS/EVS)European/World Values Survey (WVS/EVS) International Social Survey Programme (ISSP)International Social Survey Programme (ISSP)

More recently:More recently: European Social Survey (ESS)European Social Survey (ESS) Central and Eastern Eurobarometer (CEEB)Central and Eastern Eurobarometer (CEEB) Candidate Countries Barometer (CCEB)Candidate Countries Barometer (CCEB) New Democracy Barometer (NDB)New Democracy Barometer (NDB) Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES)Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES) LatinobarometerLatinobarometer AfrobarometerAfrobarometer AsiabarometerAsiabarometer


Study DocumentationStudy Documentation

1.1. Internal project documentation (data producers)Internal project documentation (data producers)2.2. Secondary analysis (data users)Secondary analysis (data users)

Exhaustive enough for others Exhaustive enough for others

to evaluate or replicate the findingsto evaluate or replicate the findings to be able to use the data for their own to be able to use the data for their own

researchresearch


Data Producer: Codes of Best PracticeData Producer: Codes of Best Practice

Manuals for survey quality management and Manuals for survey quality management and Codes of Best Practice provided by professionalCodes of Best Practice provided by professionalassociations such as: associations such as: American Association for Public Opinion American Association for Public Opinion

Research (www.aapor.org)Research (www.aapor.org) ESOMAR (www.esomar.nl)ESOMAR (www.esomar.nl) British Market Research Quality Standard British Market Research Quality Standard

Association (www.bmra.org.uk) Association (www.bmra.org.uk)


Study DocumentationStudy Documentation

Social science data archives have Social science data archives have

standard requirements standard requirements

for documentation of studies that are for documentation of studies that are related to their role as holders and related to their role as holders and

publisher of data. publisher of data.


Bridge between Bridge between Data Producers and UsersData Producers and Users

1.1. Users rarely engaged in creation of a data Users rarely engaged in creation of a data setset

2.2. Other research purpose than intended by Other research purpose than intended by the creators (secondary analysis) the creators (secondary analysis)

3.3. Use of data many years after they were Use of data many years after they were createdcreated

4.4. Comparing and combining data from Comparing and combining data from different sourcesdifferent sources


Adding Value to Data Collections Adding Value to Data Collections Cleaning procedures to ensure their integrityCleaning procedures to ensure their integrity Software dependencies are stripped awaySoftware dependencies are stripped away Comprehensive computer-readable metadata are Comprehensive computer-readable metadata are

developeddeveloped Integration and harmonization of data from Integration and harmonization of data from

comparative surveyscomparative surveys Electronic search and retrieval systems (catalogues)Electronic search and retrieval systems (catalogues) Interactive statistical laboratoriesInteractive statistical laboratories


Why High Quality Metadata? Why High Quality Metadata?

Metadata is vital for any research discoveryMetadata is vital for any research discovery Metadata provides the maps that are needed to Metadata provides the maps that are needed to

navigate a complex data sourcenavigate a complex data source Bridge between data producers and usersBridge between data producers and users Metadata might provide links to reports, further Metadata might provide links to reports, further

studies, relevant persons and institutionsstudies, relevant persons and institutions


Main Components of MetadataMain Components of Metadata

1.1. Catalogue/study descriptionCatalogue/study description2.2. Codebook/data dictionaryCodebook/data dictionary3.3. User Guide User Guide

Over the years many initiatives to create Over the years many initiatives to create metadata standardsmetadata standards


Data Documentation Initiative (1)Data Documentation Initiative (1)

1994: International program to produce a 1994: International program to produce a metadata specification for the metadata specification for the description description

of social science data resourcesof social science data resources

2000: First official version of the DDI Specification 2000: First official version of the DDI Specification 2003: Version 2.0 2003: Version 2.0 2006: Version 3.02006: Version 3.0


Data Documentation Initiative (2)Data Documentation Initiative (2)DDI is an effort to establish an internationalDDI is an effort to establish an internationalcriterion and methodology for content criterion and methodology for content presentation presentation transportation and transportation and preservation preservation of metadata about datasets in social sciences.of metadata about datasets in social sciences.

Development of a Development of a Document Type Definition Document Type Definition (DTD)(DTD) for for

““marking up” codebooksmarking up” codebooks


Documenting Comparative Survey SeriesDocumenting Comparative Survey Series

ZA CODEBOOKEXPLORERMay 2004

Version 3.2

W.Zenk-MöltgenZentralarchiv für Empirische Sozialforschung an der Universität zu

Köln, Germany

European Values Survey Database 1999 Central and Eastern Eurobarometer 1990-1997 Candidate Countries Barometer 2001-2004 Childhood, Youth and Growing Up 1991-1997 Continuity Guide to German National Elections European Voter 1956-2001


CEEB CodebookExplorerCEEB CodebookExplorerCD ROM VersionCD ROM Version

Study View CEEB TREND View

Country View






CEEB CodebookExplorerCEEB CodebookExplorerInternet VersionInternet Version

https://info1.za.gesis.org/cei/db.asp?db=CEEBhttps://info1.za.gesis.org/cei/db.asp?db=CEEB


Thanks for Thanks for your attention!your attention!

Documents

Comparative Survey Research and Study Documentation Needs The Data Archive Perspective