Data at CSDA

NESSTAR catalogue
The NESSTAR Internet system enables browsing and searching within data sets and their documentation, running on-line analysis and downloading data sets and code books. Registration and login in is required for data analysis and downloading. Full data sets are available only on the base of the signed agreement concerning conditions for using data files and their documentation (the form can be sent by fax. For more information consult: Obtaining data from the CSDA (NESSTAR) catalogue). New data are being added step by step.

MEDARD
Separate library for qualitative data

Social Stratification In Eastern Europe After 1989
Web pages of international research project carried out in 1993 with primary data sets available for downloading.

Obtaining Data from the CSDA (NESSTAR) Catalogue:

Catalogue use instructions can be found directly at the catalogue’s website or in the file attached to this text. In order to obtain data, proceed as follows:

(1) Free access without registration: In the data catalogue, you can view the metadata (descriptive information) of each dataset deposited and you can determine the frequencies of individual variables. No statistical operations can be conducted and no datasets can be downloaded.

(2) Registration: Fill out the registration form (state your name, e-mail address and name of the institution for which you intend to process the data, choose your username and password); by filling out the form, you agree to the terms and conditions of data processing. After registration, statistical operations with the data can be conducted.

(3) Dataset search: Search in the NESSTAR electronic catalogue for the dataset relevant to your research question; data documentation can help you determine whether the dataset corresponds to your requirements. Detailed instructions for dataset search are found in the Help section of the catalogue’s website.

(4) Obtaining data access rights:

 Online data: Datasets can be accessed by all registered users; after registration in the NESSTAR system, you can immediately begin analyzing or downloading datasets, provided you have agreed to a data processing contract (see homepage).

 Setting up rights: After the form has been received, your access rights will be modified to give you access to datasets.

(4A) Data analysis in the NESSTAR: The system prepares tables, figures and simple data analyses directly in the online environment. Control buttons are located above the right-hand window. The required calculation will proceed after variables have been specified (e.g., by clicking the right mouse button).

(4B) Downloading a dataset: In the catalogue, click on the title of the desired dataset, then click on the floppy disk icon in the upper-right corner of the screen, choose data format, and click on the “Download” button. After verifying your username and password, the system will copy the dataset to the location you have specified. Data download is subject to a special contract. 

If you are looking for data that are not available on the catalogue’s website, ask for more information directly at archiv@soc.cas.cz.

Note: The transfer of some datasets to a client requires the depositor’s consent. Therefore, the modification of rights will not proceed immediately, but only after the depositor’s consent with dataset transfer has been obtained. Clients will be informed about this necessary delay. 

Personal Data Protection

The Institute of Sociology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, is registered with the Czech Office for Personal Data Protection and its research activities are governed by Act No. 101/2000 Coll., on personal data protection. In line with the Act, the CSDA only deposits and disseminates such data that do not have the nature of personal data. 

Data from sample interview surveys are intended for statistical processing and calculation of aggregated information. Any information identifying individuals is irrelevant for this purpose and excluded from the datasets. Full anonymity is a condition for a dataset to be deposited in the archive.

The MEDARD online counselling service provides links to sources of information about personal data protection in qualitative research and social research in general. 

The CSDA Data Library

The Czech Social Science Data Archive (CSDA) collects and disseminates electronic files with primary data from sociological surveys that are fit for secondary analysis. Tabled results are published for older surveys where primary data is not available.

Data sources:

- datasets created in Institute of Sociology research projects,

- publicly available datasets created with public funding in other institutions conducting sociological research,

- datasets from publicly available opinion polls and

- international datasets obtained via data exchange contracts for teaching and research purposes.

 quantitative data: primary datasets from sample interview surveys intended for secondary statistical analysis (SPSS, STATA, tab-delimited formats) 

 qualitative data: digitalized data from qualitative social science surveys (as a rule, interview transcripts, but audio or video recordings can be archived as well). Qualitative data are deposited in a special data library of the MEDARD archive.

Access to data: Data.

Information for prospective data depositors: Data depositing.

Other Data Sources

International data exchange: According to the agreement governing the CESSDA network (Council of European Social Science Data Archives), clients from the Czech Republic can access data deposited in other CESSDA member archives through the CSSDA (see MAP). 

Online portal to data sources: The CSDA website contains links to other sources of data suitable for social research: Web 

Other data sources

European Social Survey
Web pages give access to an extended international database from the regular social surveys. The database includes also the Czech data. It is possible to conduct on-line analysis and upload data.

CESSDA (Council of European Social Science Data Archives)
On the basis of the international data exchange agreement Czech clients can acquire the data stored in all  21 of the CESSDA member archives through the data services of SDA. Web pages of this network of European data institutions link together not only member archives, but also other archives in Europe, and all around the world.

Links to the other data sources