Data and Social Research

Chuck Humphrey

Data Library

Rutherford North Library

Outline

Research data Connect how social research uses quantitative

evidence with data Discuss how statistics are related to data Statistics are about definitions and classifications Being a critical user of statistics Understanding the Census Aggregate data and microdata

Uses of quantitative evidence

Providing a description of social phenomena This typically entails answering the question

about the scale or scope of some social group or characteristics of the group.

Making a comparison among social entities This typically involves establishing the degree of

similarity or dissimilarity among social entities. Identifying relationships among social

variables This approach looks at the correlation among

social phenomena. How are things related?

How statistics and data differStatistics

• numeric facts & figures • derived from data, i.e, already

processed• presentation-ready• needs definitions• published

Data• numeric files created and

organized for analysis or processing

• requires processing• not display-ready• needs detailed documentation• disseminated, not published

Six dimensions or variables in this tableThe cells in the table are the number ofestimated smokers.

Geography

Region

TimePeriods

Social Content

Smokers

Education

Age

Sex

Statistics and data

Statistics and data

Statistics are about definitions!

Statistics are dependent on definitions. You may think of statistics as numbers, but the numbers represent measurements or observations based on specific definitions.

Tables are structured around geography, time and social content based on attributes of the unit of observation. These properties all need definitions.

Statistics are about definitions!

Consider the following example from the 2006 Canadian Census on the data behind some statistics about visible minorities.

Visible Minority Groups (15), Generation Status (4), Age Groups (9) and Sex (3) for the Population 15 Years and Over of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census

Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data

Statistics are about definitions!

How is visible minority status identified in the Census? Are aboriginals among the visible minority in Canada? What is the definition of visible minority?

ClassificationsSex

Total

Male

Female

Periods

1994-1995

1996-1997

Statistics involve classifications

Some classifications are based on standards while others are based on convention or practice.

For example, Standard Geography classifications

Statistics involve classifications

Statistics are derived from observational, experimental and computational data.

A table is a format for displaying statistics and presents a summary or one view of the data.

Tables are structured around geography, time and attributes of the unit of observation.

Statistics are dependent on definitions. Working with data requires some computing

skills with analytic software.

Facts about statistics and data

• Who published this statistic? Can you name the producer or distributor of the data? You need this information to provide a citation for each

statistic. You should ask yourself what motive is behind this

published statistic.

• What view of the data is shown in this statistic? What level of geography is shown? What time period is shown? What social characteristics are shown?

Questions to ask about statistics

• What concepts are represented in this statistic? Are definitions provided with the statistic for geography,

time or the social characteristics? Was a standard classification system used for the

categories of the statistic?

• Can you identify a data source for the statistic? If there isn’t a data source, the statistic isn’t real. Is there enough information that you could find the data? Can you name the data source itself?

Questions to ask about statistics

Statistics are presentation ready

Tables and charts (or graphs) are typically used to display many statistics at once. You will find statistics sprinkled in text as part of a narrative describing some phenomenon; but tables and charts are the primary methods of organizing and presenting statistics.

Population and demographics

The Census is one of the most important sources of statistical information about Canada. It is the largest survey conducted in Canada and, consequently, is the primary source for small area statistics.

To use data from the Census, you must know: The characteristics collected in the Census

that are available for the spatial units used to disseminate results;

The variety of spatial units used to disseminate Census results.

Census of Population

Two forms are used to collect the Census: 2A, which goes to 80% of the households, and 2B, which goes to the other 20%.

In 2006, the 2A form contained 8 questions while the 2B form had these 8 plus 53 additional questions.

Long history of specific questions (see the Census Dictionary.)

You need to understand the content of the Census to know what statistics are possible from the Census.

Post-CensalPost-Censal

PALSEDSAPS

PALSEDSAPS

PUMFPUMF

RDCRDC

DATA

PublicUse

MicrodataAggregate

STATSSTC

Website

CustomTabulations

DLI

CENSUS2006

Microdata and aggregate data

Microdata• from observational

methods• created from the

respondents in a survey

Aggregate Data• statistics organized in a

data file structure• derived from microdata

sources• used in GIS & time

series analysis

Spatial Unit

Geo-code

Geo-referenced data

The unit analysis makes up the rows in the data file and is the object being

described by the other variables the file. The values for this variable are geo-

codes for Census tracts.

Geo-referenced data

This case in the data file represents Census Tract 0023.00, which was shown

in the image two slides earlier.

The variety of spatial units

Statistics Canada groups the variety of spatial units associated with the Census into two groups:

Source for the graphics: Illustrated Glossary, 2006 Census Geography, Statistics CanadaSource: Illustrated Glossary, 2006 Census Geography, Statistics Canada

Urban small area statistics

Census Metropolitan Areas

Source for the graphic: Illustrated Glossary, 2006 Census Geography, Statistics Canada

Metropolitan Areas 2006 Map of Edmonton CMA

Census results for 2006 Standard Census data products

Highlight tables

ProfilesCensus trendsTopic-based tabulations

For smaller areas outside CMAs or for dissemination areas, need to retrieve from the Data Library

Public use microdata files for individuals

CANSIM CANSIM is a very large database containing

socio-economic statistics for Canada. There are currently over 38 million time series organized in approximately 2,800 tables.

The statistics in CANSIM come from surveys (e.g., the Labour Force Survey), administrative data (e.g., crime and justice) and simulations or

models (e.g., population projections). Geography, content and time are basic to

retrieving time series from CANSIM.

Online copies of questionnaires and data documentation from DLI. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/dli-idd/dli-idd-eng.htm

Online catalogues, such as the Statistics Canada DLI title list, the ICPSR catalogue, the CESSDA portal and the ASSDA Nesstar server. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/dli-idd/dli-idd-eng.htm http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/ http://www.cessda.org/index.html http://assda.anu.edu.au/

Tools for working with data

Online access to data through IDLS http://guides.library.ualberta.ca/data

Off line access through the Data Library Rutherford North, 1st Floor (492-5212)

Statistical software, such as SPSS http://www.labs.ualberta.ca/

Tools for working with data