Data Retrieval at Data Retrieval at UOITUOIT

ESTAT & CANSIMESTAT & CANSIMDLIDLI

EquinoxEquinox<odesi><odesi>

ICPSRICPSR

Data RetievalData Retieval

The following power point presentation will The following power point presentation will walk you through data retrieval at UOIT. walk you through data retrieval at UOIT. The presentation will cover:The presentation will cover:

► ESTAT / CANSIMESTAT / CANSIM► DLI – Data Liberation InitiativeDLI – Data Liberation Initiative► Equinox – Data Library Service from UWOEquinox – Data Library Service from UWO► <odesi><odesi>► ICPSR - Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social ICPSR - Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social

ResearchResearch

All available on the Statistics Subject Guide:All available on the Statistics Subject Guide:http://library.wlu.ca/uoit/eResources/index.cfm?report=subOUdat

Data Collection in Canada

Canadian surveysCanadian surveys

►The Canadian government requires in-The Canadian government requires in-depth and reliable data on conditions depth and reliable data on conditions in the country in order to make in the country in order to make decisions.decisions.

►Therefore Statistics Canada exists to Therefore Statistics Canada exists to provide that data.provide that data.

►Statistics Canada runs approximately Statistics Canada runs approximately 350 active surveys on different topics.350 active surveys on different topics.

Canadian surveysCanadian surveys

Examples of surveys include:Examples of surveys include:►2425: 2425: Annual Survey of Arts, Annual Survey of Arts,

Entertainment and RecreationEntertainment and Recreation►2920: 2920: Provincial Wage and Salary SurveyProvincial Wage and Salary Survey►3315: 3315: Homicide SurveyHomicide Survey

The frequency of surveys vary. Some were The frequency of surveys vary. Some were done once and never repeated, some are done once and never repeated, some are done annually, some biannually, some done annually, some biannually, some quinquennially.quinquennially.

MethodologyMethodology

►The methodology of surveys varies.The methodology of surveys varies.►The The General Social SurveyGeneral Social Survey involves 30 involves 30

to 45 minute telephone interviews with to 45 minute telephone interviews with approximately 25 000 Canadians.approximately 25 000 Canadians.

►The The Uniform Crime Reporting SurveyUniform Crime Reporting Survey involves every police force in the involves every police force in the country submitting their local numbers country submitting their local numbers on murders, car thefts etc to Stats on murders, car thefts etc to Stats Canada.Canada.

How does Stats Canada publish How does Stats Canada publish it’s findings?it’s findings?

►A lot is offered on the web for free.A lot is offered on the web for free.►For example, you can get information For example, you can get information

from the annual from the annual Uniform Crime Uniform Crime Reporting SurveyReporting Survey from Juristat at from Juristat at http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=85-002-XIE

Some is on the web through Some is on the web through CANSIM CANSIM

►CANSIM is the “Canadian Socio-Economic CANSIM is the “Canadian Socio-Economic Information Management System”Information Management System”

►The general public can search CANSIM, The general public can search CANSIM, but have to pay to get CANSIM statistics.but have to pay to get CANSIM statistics.

►UniversitiesUniversities subscribe to E-Stat and their subscribe to E-Stat and their students therefore get students therefore get free accessfree access..

Raw data available through Raw data available through DLIDLI

►What ESTAT/CANSIM make available What ESTAT/CANSIM make available are are statisticsstatistics generated from the raw generated from the raw data collected by the surveys.data collected by the surveys.

►Advanced researchers who need to Advanced researchers who need to work with the work with the raw dataraw data can get the can get the data through the Data Liberation data through the Data Liberation Initiative.Initiative.

ESTAT / CANSIM

ESTAT / CANSIMESTAT / CANSIM

►Think of ESTAT as being Statistics Think of ESTAT as being Statistics Canada’s internet portal.Canada’s internet portal.

►Think of CANSIM as being the user Think of CANSIM as being the user friendly repository of the statistics friendly repository of the statistics collected by those 350 surveys.collected by those 350 surveys.

►You do a search, find a table which will You do a search, find a table which will have the needed information, and have the needed information, and choose the variables that you want.choose the variables that you want.

General Search for “cocaine”General Search for “cocaine”

List of tables involving List of tables involving cocainecocaine

Choosing theCrime Stats

Table

This data came from the This data came from the UCRSUCRS

UCRS

Click “View checklist”to pick and choose

these variables on one page.

Choose needed locationsChoose needed locations

Compare Toronto..

To..

Regina, SaskatoonAnd

Vancouver

Needed variablesNeeded variables

Cocaine offences

and (just forInterest’s sake)

Cannabis

Choose dates and retrieve Choose dates and retrieve tabletable

Beyond 20/20Beyond 20/20

To display your tables in a more fancy way, you coulddownload the Beyond 20/20 browser from ESTAT.

Beyond 20/20 is like an easy Microsoft Excel program, andmost of the Cansim files can be downloaded for use in

Beyond 20/20.

Beyond 20/20Beyond 20/20

►Download Beyond 20/20 browser on Download Beyond 20/20 browser on ESAT, the link is on the Statistics ESAT, the link is on the Statistics Subject guide.Subject guide.

DLI – Data LiberationInitiative

Raw Data from the DLIRaw Data from the DLI

►The data from The data from somesome surveys are surveys are available to researchers through the available to researchers through the Data Liberation InitiativeData Liberation Initiative (DLI).(DLI).

►These are raw data files which the user These are raw data files which the user would work with in a program such as would work with in a program such as SPSS.SPSS.

►Many surveys are not available through Many surveys are not available through DLI, due to confidentiality issues.DLI, due to confidentiality issues.

ConfidentialityConfidentiality

►Under the Under the Statistics ActStatistics Act, Statistics , Statistics Canada must protect the confidentiality Canada must protect the confidentiality of respondents’ data and identity.of respondents’ data and identity.

►Therefore, much of the data we can get Therefore, much of the data we can get through DLI has been “stripped” so that through DLI has been “stripped” so that it is impossible to identify individuals it is impossible to identify individuals who responded to the survey.who responded to the survey.

How does it work?How does it work?

►Basically, you identify a data file that Basically, you identify a data file that you want, and ask the you want, and ask the data librariandata librarian to to download it and send it to you.download it and send it to you.

(Stats Canada only allows one person (Stats Canada only allows one person per institution to use the DLI per institution to use the DLI password).password).

Unfortunately, the data files on the DLI site aren’treally that searchable. Some of the files do cover“senior abuse,” but performing this search comes upwith 0 hits.

Another option – click hereand browse.

Browsing Survey TitlesBrowsing Survey Titles

Browsetitles and

click (DLI) formore information,such as survey

overview and thequestionnaire

used in thesurvey.

DLI’s limitations…DLI’s limitations…

►The DLI site is not really searchable. The DLI site is not really searchable. Generally a researcher would already Generally a researcher would already know what file he/she needs before know what file he/she needs before entering.entering.

►THIS is why UOIT signed onto THIS is why UOIT signed onto EquinoxEquinox from the University of Western Ontario.from the University of Western Ontario.

What it isWhat it is

Equinox is basically an index and Equinox is basically an index and database at the University of Western database at the University of Western Ontario. It contains many of the data Ontario. It contains many of the data files available on DLI, plus various files files available on DLI, plus various files from other sources.from other sources.

Why it existsWhy it exists

Although it’s great that numerous Although it’s great that numerous Canadian surveys are available Canadian surveys are available through DLI, DLI has certain problems.through DLI, DLI has certain problems.

► It’s not truly searchable.It’s not truly searchable.►The DLI license states that only ONE The DLI license states that only ONE

person (usually the data librarian) at person (usually the data librarian) at each university can retrieve the data, each university can retrieve the data, which can be problematic. which can be problematic.

Why Equinox existsWhy Equinox exists

The people at Western created Equinox The people at Western created Equinox to address these problems.to address these problems.

► It is easier to search for data files It is easier to search for data files through Equinox than it is through DLI.through Equinox than it is through DLI.

► If you find what you need through If you find what you need through Equinox you can have the data Equinox you can have the data emailed to yourself immediately, emailed to yourself immediately, rather than asking the data librarian to rather than asking the data librarian to do it for you when he/she has time.do it for you when he/she has time.

As wellAs well

►You take (a possibly huge!) data file You take (a possibly huge!) data file from DLI all in one piece.from DLI all in one piece.

►Before you have a data file emailed to Before you have a data file emailed to yourself from Western’s Equinox, you yourself from Western’s Equinox, you choose which variables you want – choose which variables you want – excluding all the ones you don’t care excluding all the ones you don’t care about. Therefore you end up with a about. Therefore you end up with a more manageable file to use.more manageable file to use.

The one catchThe one catch

►Not all DLI surveys/files are on Not all DLI surveys/files are on Western’s Equinox, though the most Western’s Equinox, though the most popular ones certainly are.popular ones certainly are.

Equinox StepsEquinox Steps

►Search files for the required data.Search files for the required data.►Select a data file.Select a data file.►Select the variables that you need.Select the variables that you need.►Restrict data retrieval.Restrict data retrieval.►Retrieve the data.Retrieve the data.►Analyze the data on your own Analyze the data on your own

computer.computer.

What you can and can’t getWhat you can and can’t get

►File typeFile type – want Raw Data. However, if – want Raw Data. However, if you find a file in Beyond 20/20 or you find a file in Beyond 20/20 or some other format, ask your professor some other format, ask your professor if it is okay to use.if it is okay to use.

►Access restrictionsAccess restrictions – if you find – if you find anything that says anything that says freefree or or publicpublic, you’ll , you’ll be able to get them, otherwise you be able to get them, otherwise you can ONLY get files from DLI.can ONLY get files from DLI.

Access RestrictionsAccess Restrictions

If If Access RestrictionAccess Restriction reads “UWO only” reads “UWO only” that file is limited to students at UWO.that file is limited to students at UWO.

If If Access RestrictionAccess Restriction reads “ICPSR” you reads “ICPSR” you can not get it through Equinox – BUT can not get it through Equinox – BUT you can get it through the ICPSR you can get it through the ICPSR database.database.

ICPSR:Interuniversity Consortium

for Political and Social Research

ICPSRICPSR

► Based out of the University of Michigan, ICPSR is a Based out of the University of Michigan, ICPSR is a vast archive of social science data - fields covered vast archive of social science data - fields covered include sociology, political science, history and include sociology, political science, history and economics.economics.

► ICPSR also has seven special topic archives in the ICPSR also has seven special topic archives in the fields of gerontology, substance abuse and mental fields of gerontology, substance abuse and mental health, criminal justice, child care, health and health, criminal justice, child care, health and medical care, education, and demography.medical care, education, and demography.

► ICPSR contains primarily ICPSR contains primarily AmericanAmerican data. data.► Like Equinox, ICPSR allows researchers to search, Like Equinox, ICPSR allows researchers to search,

retrieve and download data sets onto their own retrieve and download data sets onto their own computers without going through the Data Librarian, computers without going through the Data Librarian, which is the case with retrieving files from the DLI.which is the case with retrieving files from the DLI.