DAMES Node: Workshops and Capacity Building resources
An objective of the DAMES Node is to raise capacity in ‘data management’ for social survey research (see our Node Theme 1.4). We are preparing online resources and hosting a variety of training workshops on features of the data management process during the course of the Node. This site gives access to resources organised around these workshops and other capacity building activities.
Links to materials and capacity building events are below:
| Capacity building resources | As well as those materials available via our workshop programmes, some of our generic resources on data management comprise: |
1) Help and standards of good practice in survey data management |
Visit our page which features text with descriptions and instructions, and further resources and links, on dealing with the management of survey data. Our materials are organised around five topics: documentation for replication / matching files / recoding variables / averaging and scaling variables / professional standards. |
2) Tools for common tasks |
For some important tasks we piloted the construction of generic tools for performing these operations with minimal specification requirements from the user. These can be processed online, or as part of other software systems. We have materials on relevant tools for : matching files / recoding variables / averaging and scaling variables |
3) GESDE services |
The 'Grid Enabled Specialist Data Environments' comprise three online portals providing access to specialist information resources concerned with data on occupations, educational qualifications and ethnicity. |
| Workshop programme | Follow the links for particular workshops to locate downloadable materials from them (e.g. copies of slides and lab exercise instructions and examples) |
| Public workshop | GEODE project: Handling occupational data (17 Jan 2007, Stirling) |
| Seminar | Data management through e-Social Science (18 June 2008, Manchester) |
| Public Workshop | Resources for data management and handling social science data (1 July 2008, Oxford) |
| Seminar | The significance of data management for social survey research (25 January 2009, Essex) |
| Seminar | Cross-nationally comparative social survey research (24 June 2009, Cologne) |
| Training workshop | Data management for social survey research (24 - 25 August 2009, Stirling) |
| Expert workshop | Data on ethnicity in social survey research (28 January 2010, Stirling) |
| Public Workshop | Contribution to the Census Programme Workshop on Spatial and Social Classification: 'The GESDE services for classifications involving occupations, educational qualifications and ethncity' (8 June 2010, Leeds) |
| Public Workshop | Resources for Data Management (6 July 2010, Oxford) |
| Expert workshop | Data on educational qualifications in social survey research (31 August 2010, Stirling) |
| Training workshop |
Documentation and workflows in Social Survey Research (2-day event, Stirling, 24-25 November 2010) |
| Public workshop and seminar |
Workshop on 'operationalising social science variables and using the GEODE, GEMDE and GEEDE services' and seminar on 'Data management in the social sciences and the contribution of the DAMES Node' (30th/31st January 2012, Stirling) |
Travel information
Need some advice on travelling to Stirling? We suggest:
- Our own note on getting to the University of Stirling (pdf)
- Univeristy of Stirling 'Getting here' travel guide, including maps and public transport suggestions
- Prof Ken Turner's listing of local accommodation and travel advice
- The University of Stirling travel agent, Unicorn Travel (tel: 01786 472023)
- Our own pdf map for finding your way to the Department of Applied Social Science (which may confuse as much as clarify..)
GEODE workshop: Project workshop on 'Handling occupational data', 17 January 2007, Stirling
This workshop was held a few years ago to mark the cumulation of the GEODE project (which has since become a part of the DAMES Node). The workshop covered introductions to occupational information resources and the GEODE contribution, plus a detailed introductory session on accessing and using the GEODE portal.
DAMES seminar: Data management through e-Social Science, 18 June 2008, Manchester
This workshop was held as part of NCeSS's Fourth International Conference on e-Social Science. It covered introductions to the DAMES Node and agenda setting presentations and discussions.
DAMES workshop: Resources for data management and handling social science data, 1 July 2008, University of Oxford
Part of the ESRC's National Centre for Research Methods, Research Methods Festival 2008, this workshop was organised by DAMES with contributions from various speakers. It was intended to provide an accessible introduction to data management issues and resources.
ESDS/DAMES seminar: The significance of data management for social survey research, 25 January 2009, University of Essex
This workshop was organised by the UK's Economic and Social Data Service in collaboration with the DAMES Node.
Conference Workshop: Cross-nationally comparative social survey research, 24-26 June 2009, Cologne
This workshop was part of the 5th International Conference on e-Social Science and was organised in collaboration with colleagues from the CESSDA PPP project.
Two-day training workshop: Data Management for Social Survey Research, 24-25 August 2009, Stirling
The focus of this 2-day workshop was on identifying key issues in data management for the benefit of social science researchers, and providing training in undertaking such tasks in an effective manner. The materials of this workshop were oriented around the Stata software package.
Data on Ethnicity in Social Survey Research, 28 January 2010, Stirling
This 1-day 'expert' workshop was concerned with introducing the prototype 'GEMDE' service developed by the DAMES Node (as part of the 'GESDE' resources), and collecting constructive feedback on its facilities and possibilities from researchers already experienced with working in this field.
The workshop was coordinated with a public seminar on the same theme, delivered as part of the Scottish Social Survey Network
The GESDE services for classifications involving occupations, educational qualifications, and ethnicity, 8 June 2010, Leeds
This session was delivered as part of a Census Programme workshop on Spatial and Social Classifications.
Workshop materials:
- Presentation slides: ppt / pdf
- Demo handout sheet: pdf; doc
- SPSS syntax files: Analysis file (.sps); Background - data construction (.sps)
- Supplementary data resources: [see sub-folders]
- Questionnaire on the services pdf / doc
DAMES workshop: Resources for data management, 6 July 2010, University of Oxford
This workshop ran as part of the ESRC's National Centre for Research Methods, Research Methods Festival 2010, with contributions from speakers from the DAMES Node and from the UK Data Archive. The session tried to provide an accessible (but important!) introducton to data management topics.
Data on Educational Qualifications in Social Survey Research, 31 August 2010, Stirling
Event flyer (pdf)
This 1-day 'expert' workshop was concerned with introducing the prototype 'GEEDE' service developed by the DAMES Node, and collecting constructive feedback on its facilities and possibilities from researchers already experienced with working in this field. Attendance is free but places must be booked in advance.
If you are interested in accessing the workshop materials, please contact the DAMES Node PI, Paul Lambert, in the first instance
Training workshop: Documentation and workflows in social survey research, 2-day event, 24-25 November 2010, University of Stirling
Workshop flyer (pdf, including booking instructions)
Workshop materials (to be upoaded 24/25 Nov 2010)
In this workshop we plan to cover topics in keeping effective records of survey data management for purposes of communication and replication. We will draw on materials specific to survey data analysis packages such as Stata, and on wider materials related to workflows and documentation.
The workshop should be suitable to social science researchers working with complex social survey data. We are now taking bookings for this event (until 15/NOV/20120); see the workshop flyer for details/arrangements.
Public workshop and seminar: 'Operationalising social science variables and using the GEODE, GEMDE and GEEDE services' and 'Data management in the social sciences and the contribution of the DAMES Node'
Two linked half-day events, 30th (pm) and 31st (am) January, University of Stirling
Event flyer
Workshop materials
These two linked events are concerned with 'data management', and services which can support aspects of 'data management', in the social science research process. The emphasis is on materials and services developed by the DAMES Node. Participants are welcome to attend one or other or both events, but pre-registration is required. To register please email the event organiser, Paul Lambert, before 20th January 2012, to express your interest, using ‘DAMES workshop’ in the subject line. Confirmation of places will be sent as early as possible and certainly by 23rd January at the latest. We do not anticipate limiting the number of places available, but may do so if interest is greater than expected.
In our workshop on 30th January, we will cover the handling of variables in social research. Our claim is that most survey researchers could improve their analysis by taking greater advantage of existing supplementary data resources concerned with the variables involved; we will seek to substantiate this claim by providing introductions to, and examples of, methods for adapting variables which are not widely exploited. Our focus will be on three sociological examples covered in the 'GESDE' services (data on occupations, educational qualifications and ethnicity). The workshop combines talks and lab sessions; in the latter, participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops and the illustrative examples will be undertaken on their machines if possible. The workshop is open to all, and is most relevant to those involved in (or soon to be involved in) hands-on research with complex survey data resources (draft programme)
In our seminar of 31st January will will give presentations on the general theme of data managment and to highlight a number of research projects, services and provisions in this domain that the DAMES Node has worked upon. This seminar is open to all. It should be of most interest to academics and researchers with interests in the research process itself and in undertaking research involving complex social science data resources and their digital support (draft programme).
The seminar and workshop should be suitable to social science researchers, methodologists, and those interested in the idea of 'Digital Social Science' or 'e-Social Science'. Participants are welcome to attend on one or both days of the meeting.
30/31 January 2012, University of Stirling
Supported by DSR - the ESRC's Digital Social Research programme
This two day event replaces an earlier scheduled event, originally planned for June 2011 in Oxford, which had to be postponend
Downloadable materials from the workshop:
Please follow the links below to access copies of...
......Copies of presentation slides (Monday 30th January)
......Materials for the lab session (syntax and data files) (Monday 30th January)
