Sources of Quantitative Data

Data for a dissertation based on a secondary analysis of a survey data set (using SPSS)

• The UK Data Service http://ukdataservice.ac.uk has a huge range of social survey datasets that can accessed and downloaded for secondary analysis using SPSS.

• The module SOST20012 gave you the skills to undertake a dissertation of this type including how to search the Data Service for data on your topic and how to conduct analysis using SPSS. The workshop guides from the course will help, but also make use of the additional quantitative drop-in sessions for help and advice if you are doing a dissertation of this type (details on Blackboard).

Other sources of quantitative data that can be incorporated into dissertations

• Carrying out an SPSS-type analysis is not the only way to include some quantitative data in your research. Even where your research design is mainly qualitative, most dissertations will be enhanced by some use of quantitative data

• Here are 5 examples of on-line services that give you quick and easy access to some really good quantitative data (tables and graphs) on a range of topics.

• Useful not just for dissertations but as potential sources of evidence for use in some of your assessed essays

• N.B. A guide to help you access and use these sources is available on the Blackboard site

Example 1British Social Attitudes survey: on-line

www.britsocat.com/Home • On-line alternative to downloading BSA datasets and using SPSS• Quick and easy to create your own tables and graphs from the full BSA

archive (1983-2012): (requires simple on-line registration)• e.g. Support for capital punishment by education

Note for a detailed analysis you are still best downloading the survey dataset and using SPSS, but this is great if you just want some simple crosstabs

Example 2Survey data for Europe

(includes the BSA and comparative data for rest of Europe) http://www.ccesd.ac.uk/Home

• Very similar to the BSA website (uses same registration)• Can choose countries as well as years and variables• e.g. Life Satisfaction... (from Eurobarometer 2010)

Example 3Tables from the 2011 UK Census

www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011 • Request the table you want.... Download the data to create your own version

• e.g Ethnic Composition of England and Wales

Example 4Neighbourhood Statistics

http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/ • Select a local area in the UK for statistics on a range of topics• This e.g. Life Expectancy in M13 9PL (Manchester University postcode)

Example 5International Data: World Bank Development Indicators

http://stats.ukdataservice.ac.uk/ • Hundreds of indicators available • e.g. % of parliamentary seats held by women (also available as table or graph)

Further helpA short guide to accessing the 5 data sources shown here is available on

Blackboard

Also note there is additional support for students using quantitative data in their dissertations and course work:

• Drop-in Service: Fridays, 12-1pm in Room G18 Humanities Brodgeford Street (Starting October 11th) With Jen Buckley. Come along with queries on using quantitative data and data analysis (you can just drop in but it helps if you can e-mail first to outline the nature of your query (jennifer.buckley@manchester.ac.uk )

You can also contact the following for advice • Mark Brown: Room G24 HBS: email for an appointment.

mark.brown@manchester.ac.uk • Wendy Olsen (wendy.olsen@manchester.ac.uk) : Room G11 HBS: Tues 11-12

general office hour, no appointment needed. Alternatively you can book a 20/30 min slot (sign up sheet on door) at these times: Tues 9am Thurs 9.30am