Improving Social Science Data and Statistical Services through Assessment Alexandra Cooper, SSRI Joel Herndon, Perkins Library Duke University

Private research university in Durham, NC Private research university in Durham, NC Prestigious & expensive Prestigious & expensive 5 th ranked in US News & World Report 5 th ranked in US News & World Report Tuition & fees ~$30,000 in 2004/2005 Tuition & fees ~$30,000 in 2004/2005 6,500 undergrad & 6,200 grad/professional students (approx.) 6,500 undergrad & 6,200 grad/professional students (approx.) 2,500 faculty 2,500 faculty

Current project Motivation Motivation Protocol Protocol Internet survey of social science faculty & graduate students (2 requests) Internet survey of social science faculty & graduate students (2 requests) Response Response 10% faculty 10% faculty 16% graduate students 16% graduate students

Findings Overview Overview Statistical Software Statistical Software Training Training Data Data Overall satisfaction Overall satisfaction

Overview

Statistical Software

Training

Training

Data and Access Data used in teaching Data used in teaching Data used in research Data used in research Perceptions of data needs on campus Perceptions of data needs on campus

Data and Access: Instruction Data usage in the classroom Data usage in the classroom 47% of faculty 47% of faculty graduate students graduate students 13% of respondents 13% of respondents 36% of those teaching 36% of those teaching

Data and Access: Instruction Data collections most frequently cited are: Data collections most frequently cited are: Textbook data (canned data sets) Textbook data (canned data sets) Journal Data Journal Data NES/GSS/Census NES/GSS/Census

Data and Access: Research Data usage in research Data usage in research 70% of faculty 70% of faculty 69% of graduate students 69% of graduate students Roughly 224 unique responses on data usage Roughly 224 unique responses on data usage

Data and Access: Research Faculty 1. Census 2. Current Population Survey 3. Data from Other Researchers Graduate Students 1. Census 2. Current Population Survey 3. National Election Survey

Data and Access: How do you gain access to research data? 1.) Freely available over the web 2.) Through the Library 3.) Departmental or School License 4.) ICPSR/ Grant Money

Data and Access: Collections Is there a data source that you would like to use, but do not have access to at Duke? Is there a data source that you would like to use, but do not have access to at Duke? 26% of Faculty 21% of Graduate students

Data and Access: Top 3 Most Requested Sources 1.) Roper Public Opinion (4 requests) 2.) Soviet Statistical Office (3 requests) 2.) Sports Data/Baseball (3 requests) 3.) Corporate Governance Data (2 requests) 3.) DRI Citibase/Basic Economics (2 requests)

Overall satisfaction

Our next steps Further analysis Further analysis Dissemination and discussion Dissemination and discussion Pilot programs Pilot programs Other changes Other changes Re-assessment Re-assessment

General thoughts One of many ways to gather information One of many ways to gather information Findings must be fit into larger context Findings must be fit into larger context Data may be useful in unforeseen ways Data may be useful in unforeseen ways Worthwhile Worthwhile

Improving Social Science Data and Statistical Services through Assessment Alexandra Cooper, SSRI Joel Herndon, Perkins Library