Help accessing data

from ICPSR

on the Statlab server

on CD-ROM

on the Internet

Help using data

Using ASCII data files

Using data definition statements

Using system data files

HELP ACCESSING DATA

ICPSR: ICPSR studies in StatCat are denoted in the search results list by ICPSR followed by the study number to the left of the study title. The study title links directly to the full study description on ICPSR's Web site; from there, the data and documentation for the study may be downloaded by faculty, students and staff on the Yale network. ICPSR provides help for downloading data and documentation.

For non-ICPSR records, click on one of the Holdings links to learn how to get the data for that media type (CD-ROM, Internet, or Statlab Server), or click All Holdings to compare holdings on different media types.

CD-ROM: CD-ROMs at the Social Science Library can be checked out from the Circulation Desk. Some may be used in the Social Science Library only; others may be checked out for out-of-building use. Check Orbis, the library's online catalog, for circulation details for each particular CD-ROM. CD-ROMs at the Government Documents and Information Center (Mudd Library) may be checked out for three days. Some CD-ROMs include software for data analysis; others include the raw data only and require the use of statistical software. Statistical software is available in the Statlab, Statlab annex, and computer clusters. See Help using data files for details on reading data into common statistical packages.

Statlab server: Datasets on the Statlab server can be used in the Statlab, Statlab annex, computer clusters, or anywhere on the Yale network. Follow the hyperlink displayed for each file to retrieve it (you will be asked to login with your Yale NetID if you have not already done so). Most data files require the use of statistical software, which is available in the Statlab, Statlab annex, and computer clusters. See Help using data files for details on reading data into common statistical packages.

Internet: Datasets on the Internet often allow for some direct, online analysis without the use of a statistical software package. Some may generate an output file that should be read into a statistical package. Consult the help files within each particular Internet dataset for details.

HELP USING DATA FILES

Most of the Help pages linked below are created and hosted by the Yale Social Science Statistical Laboratory (StatLab), which maintains an extensive Help section on its Web site. ICPSR also provides help for data access and analysis.

Using ASCII Data Files (.dat, .raw , .txt or .csv files)

Column-delimited ASCII files (usually with the file extension .dat or .raw) and Delimited ASCII files (usually with the file extension .txt or .csv) can be read by standard statistical packages.

Using ASCII data files with SAS
Using ASCII data files with SPSS

Using data definition statements

Data definition statements (also known as control cards) contain the syntax or program code to read raw data (ASCII) into a statistical package.

How to Use SAS Data Definition Statements (from ICPSR)
How to Use SPSS Data Definition Statements (from ICPSR)

Using system data files

The system data files available are ready for analysis using Statlab software, with little additional data management.

Using SAS Transport files
Using SAS System files
Using SPSS Export files
Using SPSS System files
Converting system files using DBMS/COPY
Converting system files using Stat/Transfer