http://www.esds.ac.uk/
The Economic and
Social Data Service (ESDS) is a national data service providing access and
support for an extensive range of key economic and social data, both
quantitative and qualitative, spanning many disciplines and themes. ESDS
provides an integrated service offering enhanced support for the secondary
use of data across the research, learning and teaching communities.
ESDS is a distributed service, based on a collaboration between four key
centres of expertise: UK Data Archive (UKDA), Institute for Social and
Economic Research (ISER), both based at the University of Essex; Mimas
and Cathie Marsh Centre for Census and Survey Research (CCSR), both located
at the University of Manchester.
Search for
content on all of the JISC services websites
What we can do for you
ESDS is dedicated to supporting users of social and economic datasets for
secondary analysis for research and teaching, from the novice researcher to
the experienced data analyst. ESDS provides:
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help desk for general questions about finding, accessing and using data,
including help with
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most popular data handling and analysis software
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series of online guides on ESDS services including dataset, thematic,
software and statistical guides
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programme of outreach and promotional events
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JISCmail lists informing users of forthcoming events, new data releases,
new developments, etc.
site representatives with contact details for locally-obtainable general
advice and information
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downloadable tools developed by the UKDA and ESDS
ESDS acquires, processes, preserves and disseminates a range of data across
the social sciences with the four specialist data services - ESDS
Government, ESDS International, ESDS Longitudinal and ESDS Qualidata -
providing value-added support.
ESDS Government led by
CCSR with support from the UKDA, promotes and facilitates increased and
more effective use of large-scale government surveys in research, learning
and teaching. This includes methodological guides, short courses and
support for key statistical packages. The service works closely with data
producers and users to maximise the synergy between these groups.
ESDS
International provides access to, and support for, a range of
international datasets – both macro and micro sources. The central aims of
the function are to promote and facilitate increased and more effective use
of international datasets in research, learning and teaching across a range
of disciplines. ESDS International is led by MIMAS at Manchester, with
support from the UKDA.
ESDS Longitudinal work is
undertaken jointly by the UKDA and the UK Longitudinal Studies Centre
(ULSC), based at the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER). The
service supports a range of longitudinal data collections by: creating data
enhancements; providing user support and training; and promoting the
increased use of longitudinal data.
ESDS Qualidata provides
access to, and support for, a range of qualitative datasets, and is hosted
by the UKDA. The service is responsible for generating a number of data
enhancements, and for providing information and training resources that
focus on strategies for re-analysing qualitative data.
How to access our data
Data supported by ESDS can be accessed via the ESDS website
ESDS provides advanced search and browse facilities including: searching by
title, data creator, or keywords/variables; and browsing by subject
category, major studies, and new releases.
All users can access study descriptions, online documentation, including
questionnaires, free of charge and without registering. Access to data
requires registration and uses the Athens authentication system. Registered
users can also download and explore/analyse online a large and growing
number of datasets. Users can also request data on CD.