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Data Services Class Descriptions

Information, materials, and schedules for all currently offered Data Services classes.
The vocabulary of social research that accompanies the presentation and structure of datasets can be overwhelming. Often, this information is glossed over, even though it should be the starting point of a research question and one’s search for data. Understanding Social Science Methods is not a session on finding data; rather, we will focus on the recursive process of evaluating data that we encounter as research questions are being formed.
Software:

No software is required, although special versions of this session may require Stata. We do recommend that you create an account with ICPSR before attending the session
Duration: 90 min

Room description:

Some tutorials are held remotely and require NYU sign on to access, while others are held in person, without a remote component. Please note the correct modality and location of the tutorial when registering
Prerequisites: No prerequisites
Skills Taught / Learning Outcomes:
  • Formulate research questions, find data sources, in order to decide if they provide sufficient evidence to answer the questions you pose
  • Develop the literacy of making first-pass and second-pass assessments about how feasible it is to work with a dataset
  • Evaluate data based on the “methods metadata,” or the information about the data that exists
  • Presage the analytical steps you would (or could) take in order to answer your research questions
Class Materials:
Related Classes:

Principles of Finding Data
Data Wrangling in Stata
Accessing U.S. Census Data
Additional Training Materials: Longitudinal and Panel Data (2004); ICPSR's Glossary of Social Science Terms; 
Feedback: bit.ly/feedbackds

Upcoming sessions for this tutorial

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