Data Bases and Statistical Systems: Sociology

Abstract

As a rule, core databases contain quantitative survey data. Traditionally, qualitative data, for example, ethnographic field notes or transcripts of group discussions and interviews, have not been made available for secondary analysis. This is slowly changing, and a number of data archives in Europe, Australia, and the US are working on the archiving of qualitative data. Quantitative social science datasets are usually generated by major surveys, such as general social surveys, household panel studies, thematic surveys, or barometer studies, and made available for analysis.