Archiving services for data depositors' own studies

The GESIS-ZA stores copies of computer-readable datasets from all disciplines of the social sciences if the studies:

• allow reports on the German population or a part of it,
• were carried out by German researchers, whether or not the study relates to Germany or
• could be of general interest to social science users.

For all questions concerning the possibilities of archiving social science data please contact:

• Oliver Watteler, M.A., Tel. +49 (0)221- 47694-76, E-Mail

In all cases where data is archived the following services and advantages are offered to the data depositor by the GESIS-ZA:

• Routine checking of data for completeness and processing according to GESIS-ZA standards.
• Adequate archiving of the data and regular care of the data medium.
• The distribution of the data through the Zentralarchiv will be carried out according to the requests of the data depositor. Depositors define the access categories for their data.
• The data depositor can request a free copy of the data deposited in the Zentralarchiv at any time.
• Free usage of the Zentralarchiv data holdings up to the same amount of data deposited at the Zentralarchiv, as long as it's not opposed to the existing access restrictions (compare to the Usage conditions).

Cooperation with the Zentralarchiv will cause no additional costs for the data depositor.
The Zentralarchiv requires the deposit of the computer-readable dataset together with the complete necessary background material which allows the production of a complete documentation. At the time of deposit the depositor sets the access category, according to which the transfer of data by the GESIS-ZA is regulated.

Cooperation with data depositors

Numerous important research institutes from higher education and private sectors use the Zentralarchiv facilities to archive their datasets. This gives scientists the possibility to carry out empirical research work and to build upon their efforts. This way the optimum of the existing knowledge can be used reasonably.

A selection of opinion research institutes with data archived at the Zentralarchiv:

• Deutsches Jugendinstitut (German youth institute)
• DIVO
• Emnid
• Forschungsgruppe Wahlen (Election study group)
• GfK
• GFM-GETAS
• IFAK
• INFAS
• Infratest
• IPOS
• Institut für Demoskopie Allensbach (Institute for Opinion Research Allensbach)
• Intermarket
• Marplan
• Sample

© GESIS Oliver Watteler 14.12.2007