Help completing the data deposit form
Specific help text has been created for each stage of the data deposit form. For additional advice, email collections@ukdataservice.ac.uk.
Step 1 Data and Documentation Files Description
Step 1 Data and Documentation Files Description
Check that you can supply us with data and documentation in a recommended format. If not, email collections@ukdataservice.ac.uk.
Title: should reflect the nature and subject of the data collection and include a date e.g. General Household Survey, 2001-2002. We may amend the title to reflect current cataloguing standards.
Data collection description
For each data, documentation or other file: list the file name(s), format(s) and content(s) e.g.
- Income1.exp, spss, Income data for first wave respondents.
- Qnairew1.doc, Word format, Questionnaire for first wave respondents.
- Income1.sps, spss commands for creating variables in income1.sav.
Weighting: as information about weighting is crucial for secondary analysis and processing the materials, this is a mandatory element.
Edition/extract/version: is this a new edition, extract or special version of the data collection? If so, provide details.
Confidentiality/anonymisation: has the data collection been anonymised?
If 'Yes', provide details and also if there are any additional confidentiality or anonymisation issues surrounding the collection.
If 'No' or, not relevant, provide details.
Funding: if funding source is not included in the list provided, type details under Funding Source, and any grant or reference number under Grant Number details (if applicable).
Depositor(s): person(s) and organisation(s) who deposited the data collection, usually, but not always, the Licence Agreement signatory. Note that forename, surname and email details are all mandatory elements.
Data creator(s): sometimes referred to as principal investigator(s) and can be person(s) or organisation(s).
Data collector(s): person(s) or organisation(s) who collected the data e.g. National Centre for Social Research (NatCen).
Multiple Depositors, Creators or Data Collectors may be added.
Other acknowledgments: this field should be used for names of individuals or organisations which should be acknowledged as having some input into the data collection but are not specifically covered by the other elements e.g. all District Councils in Great Britain provided data on.......
This section asks for information about the content of the data collection.
Abstract
Abstract: the abstract covers the general aims, purpose and background to the data collection, Provide details using a maximum of 300 words.
Related data collection: if derived from or related to existing data collections, list details. If data collections are available from the UK Data Archive, provide study numbers.
URL: provide a link if there is a web site containing information relevant to the data collection, and you wish us to include this in the catalogue record.
Topics
Main topics: provide information about the subject coverage of the data e.g. the public's perception of their neighbourhoods and fear of crime; workplace relations and employment practices.
Main subject categories: summarise the information provided under main topics by selecting up to six of the most appropriate categories from the list provided.
Methodology
Population: provide information about the characteristics of the group or units studied e.g single mothers in Yorkshire; families on income support, 2002.
Observation units: categorise the characteristics of the population studied, using the options provided e.g. Individuals; Families/households.
Method of data collection: select one or more methods used in the research from the list provided.
Sampling procedures: select an option from the list provided or enter additional information by using the free text 'other' box.
Coverage
Geographical coverage: this element can include multiple entries. For some data collections geographical coverage is not categorised by country/region /town e.g. for a computer program or a bibliography. In these cases use the 'other' free text box to provide details.
Spatial units: if the research has been geo-referenced, select 'Yes' and provide the names of the spatial variables, if not select 'No' and proceed to complete the remaining elements of the form.
Time dimensions (temporal coverage)
Dates of fieldwork: this relates to the date(s) the data were collected. The format of the From: and To: elements is MM/YYYY e.g. 02 1999 denotes February 1999. Alternatively, use the free text box to provide date spans e.g. 1 September 2001 - 31 October 2003.
Time period covered: this relates to the time period covered by the data, if different from the dates of fieldwork. The format of the From: and To: elements is MM/YYYY e.g. 02 1999 denotes February 1999. Alternatively, use the free text box to provide date spans e.g. 1 September 2001 - 31 October 2003.
Time dimensions: select option from the drop down list
Non-survey data (digitisation)
Details of computerisation (digitisation) or transcription: if the data collection was derived in whole or in part from other published or unpublished sources, indicate the methodology used for digitising the original source materials and whether the data represent a complete or partial transcription/copy.
Sources used: if the data were derived in whole or in part from other published or unpublished, printed or electronic sources, give references to the original material e.g. Enumerators' books; probate records; court materials; newspapers; parliamentary records.
Source location and access: give details of where the sources described in 'sources used' are held, how they are documented and how they can be accessed.
References (and publications): provide full references to any publications about or based upon the data collection. Publications should be quoted in the following style:
Curtice, J. et al (2000) Wise after the event? Voter attitudes to PR following the 1999 Scottish and Welsh elections, London: University College London, Constitution Unit.
Alt, J., Crewe, I. and Sarlvik, B. (1976) 'Partisanship and policy choice : issue preferences in the British electorate, February 1974', British Journal of Political Science Vol. 6 (3), July.
Coulthard, M., Walker, A. and Morgan A. (2001) Assessing people's perceptions of their neighbourhood and community involvement: Part 1: a guide to questions for use in the measurement of social capital based on the General Household Survey module, London: Health Development Agency.