Improving Social Science Improving Social Science Data and Statistical Data and Statistical

Services through Services through AssessmentAssessment

Alexandra Cooper, SSRI (cooper@duke.edu)Alexandra Cooper, SSRI (cooper@duke.edu)

Joel Herndon, Perkins Library Joel Herndon, Perkins Library (jherndon@duke.edu)(jherndon@duke.edu)

Duke UniversityDuke University

Duke UniversityDuke University

Private research university in Durham, Private research university in Durham, NCNC

Prestigious & expensivePrestigious & expensive 55thth ranked in ranked in US News & World ReportUS News & World Report Tuition & fees ~$30,000 in 2004/2005Tuition & fees ~$30,000 in 2004/2005

6,500 undergrad & 6,200 6,500 undergrad & 6,200 grad/professional students (approx.)grad/professional students (approx.)

2,500 faculty 2,500 faculty

Current projectCurrent project

MotivationMotivation ProtocolProtocol

Internet survey of social science faculty Internet survey of social science faculty & graduate students (2 requests)& graduate students (2 requests)

ResponseResponse 10% faculty10% faculty 16% graduate students16% graduate students

FindingsFindings

OverviewOverview Statistical SoftwareStatistical Software TrainingTraining DataData Overall satisfactionOverall satisfaction

OverviewOverview

Percent using...

01020304050607080

data inown

research

data asRA

data inteaching

GIS

Faculty

Graduate students

Statistical SoftwareStatistical SoftwareStatistical Software Usage

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Perc

en

tag

e

Faculty

Graduatestudents

Statistical SoftwareStatistical SoftwareFaculty Access to Statistical Software

05

101520253035404550

Grant orResearch

Funds

Department ComputerLab

Freeware

Perc

en

tag

e

Statistical SoftwareStatistical Software

Graduate Student Access to Statistical Software

01020304050607080

Perc

en

tag

e

Faculty Perception

Graduate StudentResponse

TrainingTraining

How graduate students learn software

01020304050607080

requiredcourse

electivecourse

self-taught

otherstudents

advisor UNC'sOdum

Institute

Faculty

Graduate students

TrainingTraining

How graduate students would learn new software

01020304050607080

requiredcourse

electivecourse

self-taught otherstudents

advisor UNC's OdumInstitute

Faculty

Graduate students

Data and AccessData and Access

Data used in teachingData used in teaching Data used in researchData used in research Perceptions of data needs on campusPerceptions of data needs on campus

Data and Access:Data and Access:InstructionInstruction

Data usage in the classroomData usage in the classroom 47% of faculty47% of faculty graduate studentsgraduate students

13% of respondents13% of respondents 36% of those teaching36% of those teaching

Data and Access:Data and Access:InstructionInstruction

Data collections most frequently Data collections most frequently cited are:cited are: Textbook data (canned data sets)Textbook data (canned data sets) Journal DataJournal Data NES/GSS/CensusNES/GSS/Census

Data and Access:Data and Access:ResearchResearch

Data usage in researchData usage in research 70% of faculty70% of faculty 69% of graduate students69% of graduate students Roughly 224 unique responses on data Roughly 224 unique responses on data

usageusage

Data and Access:Data and Access:ResearchResearch

FacultyFaculty

1.1. CensusCensus

2.2. Current Current Population SurveyPopulation Survey

3.3. Data from Other Data from Other ResearchersResearchers

Graduate StudentsGraduate Students

1.1. CensusCensus

2.2. Current Current Population SurveyPopulation Survey

3.3. National Election National Election SurveySurvey

Data and Access:Data and Access:

How do you gain access to research How do you gain access to research data?data?

1.) Freely available over the web 1.) Freely available over the web

2.) Through the Library2.) Through the Library

3.) Departmental or School License3.) Departmental or School License

4.) ICPSR/ Grant Money4.) ICPSR/ Grant Money

Data and Access:Data and Access:CollectionsCollections

Is there a data source that you would Is there a data source that you would like to use, but do not have access to like to use, but do not have access to at Duke?at Duke?

26% of Faculty26% of Faculty

21% of Graduate students21% of Graduate students

Data and Access:Data and Access: Top 3 Most Requested Sources Top 3 Most Requested Sources

1.) Roper Public Opinion (4 requests)1.) Roper Public Opinion (4 requests)

2.) Soviet Statistical Office (3 requests)2.) Soviet Statistical Office (3 requests)

2.) Sports Data/Baseball (3 requests)2.) Sports Data/Baseball (3 requests)

3.) Corporate Governance Data (2 3.) Corporate Governance Data (2 requests)requests)

3.) DRI Citibase/Basic Economics (2 3.) DRI Citibase/Basic Economics (2 requests)requests)

Overall satisfactionOverall satisfactionSatisfaction with...

01020304050607080

facu

lty

gra

du

ate

stu

de

nts

facu

lty

gra

du

ate

stu

de

nts

facu

lty

gra

du

ate

stu

de

nts

facu

lty

gra

du

ate

stu

de

nts

dataavailability

data support softwareavailability

softwaresupport

(very) satisfied

neutral

(very) dissatisfied

Our next stepsOur next steps

Further analysisFurther analysis Dissemination and discussionDissemination and discussion Pilot programsPilot programs Other changesOther changes Re-assessmentRe-assessment

General thoughtsGeneral thoughts

One of many ways to gather One of many ways to gather information information

Findings must be fit into larger Findings must be fit into larger contextcontext

Data may be useful in unforeseen Data may be useful in unforeseen waysways

WorthwhileWorthwhile

Improving Social Science Improving Social Science Data and Statistical Data and Statistical

Services through Services through AssessmentAssessment

Alexandra Cooper, SSRI (cooper@duke.edu)Alexandra Cooper, SSRI (cooper@duke.edu)

Joel Herndon, Perkins Library Joel Herndon, Perkins Library (jherndon@duke.edu)(jherndon@duke.edu)

http://docs.lib.duke.edu/data/iassist/http://docs.lib.duke.edu/data/iassist/