Getting Started at the Data Centre
Data Centre, Carleton University
Library
Ottawa, Canada
Step 1:
Choose a subject area and a research question.
- We have information on a wide
variety of topics ranging from education to
travel. For example, one research question could
be - ‘Who attends self-help groups most
often?’
Step 2:
Find the right survey.
- Our collection has many different
surveys that may answer your research question.
There are numerous ways you can look through our
survey collection.
- Most surveys have a hard copy that
you can come and browse through anytime at the
Data Centre. (These cannot leave the library.)
- Our website lists many of our
surveys. Go to the link that says Data
Available at the Data Centre and look around.
- If you can’t find what you
are looking for, ask. We will help you find it. J
Step 3:
Choose your variables
so we can make you a subset.
- Once you have a topic and a survey
to work with, you need a list of variables to
answer your research question. For example:
HCC6_4A Attended
self-help group
Value Label
1. Yes
2. No
6. Not Applicable
7. Don't Know
8. Refusal
9M. Not Stated
- Copy down the variable name or
number you want in your subset - HCC6_4A. Make
sure you also pick demographic variables (ie.
age, sex, income, …), a weight variable, as
well as any other variables that interest you.
- Once you have chosen your list of
variables give it to us in person or by email.
Please include:
- the name and year of the
survey
- the list of all the
variables you want in your subset
- your email address, class
# and/or Professor’s name
- Make sure your list is legible
– if we can’t read it, we don’t
use it.
- We need a blank disk to put your
subset on, so bring one in with you. (We
do not provide the discs.)
Step 4:
Pick up your subset.
- We will email you when your
dataset is ready. Then we will put the completed
subset on your disc in an envelope with your name
on it. The envelope will be left in the Pick-up
Box on the front desk of the Data Centre. The
data will be in SPSS format (.sav). You can pick
up the envelope any time that the Library is
open.
|
Return
to the Data Centre Home Page