Accessing the MCS via the Economic and Social Data Service
Jack KneeshawMCS workshop 10 November 2004
ESDS Longitudinal
Economic and Social Data Service
• new national data archiving and dissemination service
• provides access and support for key economic and social data
• distributed service, bringing together centres of expertise in data creation, dissemination, preservation and use
• provides seamless and easier access to a range of disparate resources for UK Higher and Further Education sectors
• core archiving services plus four specialist data services
Partners
• UK Data Archive, University of Essex
• Manchester Information and Associated Services (MIMAS), University of Manchester
• Cathie Marsh Centre for Census and Survey Research (CCSR), University of Manchester
• Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER), University of Essex
Specialist data services
• ESDS Government• ESDS International• ESDS Longitudinal • ESDS Qualidata
• Greater emphasis on:―value-added data and documentation―enhanced resource discovery―improved delivery services―service specific help―online support materials―training programme―outreach and promotion
About ESDS Longitudinal
ESDS LongitudinalJoint enterprise:
• UK Data Archive (UKDA)• UK Longitudinal Studies Centre (ULSC)
based at ISER
• supports a range of longitudinal data collections but four ‘core’ collections in particular:
• 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70) • British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) • Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) • National Child Development Study (NCDS)
ESDS Longitudinal
In addition to core studies ESDS Longitudinal will also:
• aim to identify other longitudinal datasets for inclusion, e.g. English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) and the 1946 Birth Cohort (NSHD)
• via the UKDA, continue to make available other longitudinal studies such as the LFS (2 and 5 quarter), YCS, HALS and BEPS
ESDS Longitudinal
The service already provides:
• a help desk service operated by – email: [email protected] – telephone: +44 (0)1206 872143– JISCmail discussion list: [email protected]
• web-based Frequently Asked Questions
• web-based downloadable data files
• online data in Nesstar to facilitate the browsing of longitudinal datasets (inc. the MCS)
• a series of meetings and workshops for both novice and more advanced users
Data Deposit, Processing, Retrieval and Access
The data themselves
Ensuring confidentiality
• cohort members promised confidentiality
• datasets deposited with UKDA are fully anonymised
• datasets go through further process of checking at the UKDA
• UKDA users undertake not to identify individuals
Retrieval and Access
• web access, via UKDA site, to data and metadata
• documentation (codebooks, questionnaires) freely available to any UKDA user (registered or unregistered)
• data can be browsed and frequencies run by any user (registered or unregistered) using Nesstar
• full datasets are freely available for download for the majority of our registered users
• data supplied in a variety of formats– SPSS – STATA– tab-delimited text
Online access for unregistered users
• UKDA web pages - easy to navigate format– ‘Search catalogue’ facility– subject browsing - e.g. major series – HASSET thesaurus– access to online doc - pdf user guides and
questionnaires
• Nesstar– browse data and metadata for a selection of
data, inc. MCS – run frequencies
Unregistered users demo
Online access for registered users
Registered users can:
• download full datasets
• order data via online order system
• browse/analyse/download data in Nesstar
To register:
• obtain an Athens ID
• sign and return data access agreement (legal undertaking)
• (to access data) register a usage (formerly a project)
Registered users demo
Nesstar demo
ESDS Longitudinal
+44 (0)1206 872143www.esds.ac.uk/longitudinal
www.data-archive.ac.uknesstar.esds.ac.uk/webview/index.jsp