Data Archive and Data Analysis

The primary focus of the area “Data Archive and Data Analysis” is the collection of national and international comparative surveys of interest to social and political science research. These surveys, which must comply with clearly defined methodological and technical requirements, are processed and archived according to internationally recognized standards and made accessible and user-friendly to the scientifically interested public. Reference studies such as ALLBUS and surveys for which there is a large demand are combined in data collection – frequently in cooperation with the primary researchers or experts. Variables are harmonized and standardized in order to facilitate comparisons across time or regional units.

In addition, this area directs the development of software for data processing, archiving, and analysis as well as for the online-search of data and variables; it is involved in the formation of international standards, participates in national and international research and development projects, and provides access to relevant German data collections to the international research community. The scientific area contributes to European (Council of European Social Science Data Archives (CESSDA)) and international data service networks (International Federation of Data Organizations for the Social Sciences (IFDO)), and acts as the national representative of the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR).

Users are advised during data search and data analysis, and junior researchers are introduced to complex techniques of data analysis in our further education schemes.

Similarly, independent research is continuously carried out in the form of secondary analyses, which reveal the analytical potential of the archived surveys and the statistical models in place. Important measuring instruments are tested for their validity and reliability.