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User advice in the data service
The individual advice for scientists, students and interested users is a
major task of the Central Archive. This task ranges from the search for
specific datasets, literature searches to the solution of methodological or
technical problems in secondary analysis.
- You can, therefore, turn to the responsible staff
at the
Zentralarchiv at every stage of the choice of data and its use.
- The data resources of the Zentralarchiv are also, however, independently
and quickly accessible via the index and retrieval systems. At the same
time an online service makes ordering
easier, enhanced through the downloading of data. The data is supplied
according to the usage and
charging regulations of the Zentralarchiv.
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1. For which users
is the GESIS-ZA data service intended? |
- Potential users of the Zentralarchiv are researchers or
institutes that wish to use empirical data material in their research
activities, primarily for secondary analysis.
- The archive holdings are primarily used in the context of
research projects, dissertations and preparation of examinations. But
data from the Zentralarchiv is also increasingly used in methodological
training as well as substantive teaching.
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2. Problem formulation
of users |
- How can one obtain empirical material and, if
necessary, (computer-readable) datasets for a particular research topic? A
question could be:
- How has satisfaction with democracy developed in the
1990s?
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3. Which data is available in the GESIS-ZA on this topic?
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Search possibilities:
- The detailed description of all datasets
available at GESIS-ZA is provided with the Data
Holdings Catalogue. Here the user is assisted by various search
options. At this level a preliminary selection of datasets is possible.
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ZACAT, the Central Archive's study catalogue, a
social science data portal allowing you to search for, browse, analyse
and download social science survey data like from the Browse,
analyse & download survey data like ISSP, Eurobarometer, EVS, on
German elections, from Eastern Europe, and on Youth & Adults.
The registration is free of charge.
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4. Choice of
relevant studies - Internet
and in-house information |
- In a further step in the selection process the user can do an in-house check
of the
selected studies at the level of the questions. For this
purpose the user can, if necessary, look through the codebook or the
original survey documents (questionnaire etc.) at the Zentralarchiv.
- Besides the complete question text the codebook (computer-readable or
printed) contains a sample count of the dataset. In addition to this, it
contains a complete dataset description (location and codes) which will
later, upon receipt of the data, become important.
- At present - beyond the
ZACAT - Internet research on the PDF codebooks can be done down to
variable level from the data collections:
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ALLBUS
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GDR - nFS
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Politbarometer
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Election Studies
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Eurobarometer
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ISSP
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Eastern Europe Election Studies
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Topical Study Pools
Integrated retrieval versions are available for studies with
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5. Extended
literature searches |
- Specific literature and printed data material (tables
etc.) for datasets or research topics can be found in the
library of the archive.
- It
also holds a large number of unpublished research reports.
Searching the
holdings is possible via the Internet.
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6. Order and supply of data - Ordering possibilities by
mail or download |
- Take advantage of
ZACAT. The Online Study Catalogue
allows you to search for, browse, analyse and download social science
survey data like ISSP, Eurobarometer, EVS,
Studies Eastern Europe, German Election studies or on youth and
Adults. Registration is free of charge.
- The selected datasets and the supporting material may also be ordered
online, by order form (post/fax) or by ordinary letter (overview).
The form allows the user to request the dataset copy in the desired format
(CD-ROM, FTP).
- Before ordering please note the depositor-specified access class
(Access categories described in the
user regulations). The data
protection regulations can also result in the reduction of the datasets
because of restricted access variables.
Costs are determined on the basis of the
charging regulations of the Zentralarchiv. Parts of the data can be
downloaded for free.
- A copy of the
requested data is prepared on the desired medium, together with a copy
of the necessary codebook as well as a copy of the questionnaire.
The downloading of data and documentation is in some cases available
directly or in general by arrangement in password-protected files.
(FTP server).
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© GESIS Oliver Watteler
07.01.2008
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