Using UK data portals to find and evaluate data for social science research (few places remaining)
Date:
27/01/2021
Organised by:
WISERD, Cardiff University
Presenter:
Prof Scott Orford, Sam Jones, Katie Dickson
Level:
Entry (no or almost no prior knowledge)
Contact:
Chloe McDonnell
wiserd.events@cardiff.ac.uk
Venue: Online
Description:
Data are a key resource for research and datasets are increasingly being shared for reuse by others as secondary data. However, as more secondary data are made available online finding the most relevant data for your research can be difficult.
This event will guide participants through the benefits of using web-based data portals to discover secondary datasets relevant to their research project. As an example of how to do this we will introduce the WISERD DataPortal – a free tool to help researchers discover data related to Wales.
Data portals are web-based applications created with the intention of helping researchers discover secondary datasets. They provide detailed information about a dataset’s subject matter, geographic extent and timeframe, allowing a researcher to ascertain whether that data would be useful for their project. Portals either offer access to the data themselves or inform the researcher of how to gain access to the data.
The event will be split into two parts:
1. We will consider the benefits of using data portals as data discovery tools. We will then review some of the key data portals available in the UK, including those provided by public sector organisations (such as the ONS), data repositories (such as the UK Data Archive) and academic institutions (such as the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE)).
2. We will offer a detailed walk-through of how a data portal could be used as a data discovery tool for a research project using WISERD’s DataPortal as an example. WISERD’s DataPortal is focused on Wales, enabling users to discover government, academic and third sector data from a wide variety of social science related disciplines, including health, education, language, employment, socio-economic and demographic data.
In this event you will learn:
- About the benefits of using data portals as secondary data discovery tools;
- About the key data portals which are useful for discovering data available for the UK;
- How to use a data portal, using WISERD’s DataPortal as an example, to discover data for your project.
Programme
Part 1: Using data portals as data discovery tools for research
- The benefits of using data portals to discover secondary datasets.
- An overview of the key data portals providing data for the UK.
Part 2: How to use a data portal to discover data for a research project
- Overview of the WISERD DataPortal project
- Introduction and demonstration of the WISERD DataPortal’s key functions
- Case study example of how the DataPortal’s functions can be used to discover research data.
Cost:
- UK/EU Registered post-graduate students £30- For staff at UK/EU academic institutions, UK/EU Research Councils/UKRI researchers, UK/EU public sector staff, staff at UK/EU registered charity organisations and recognised UK/EU research institutions £60- All other participants £100
Website and registration:
Region:
Wales
Keywords:
Secondary Analysis, data portals , secondary data sets
Related publications and presentations: