The Value and Use of Secondary Data Amy Pienta ICPSR

Why use secondary data? Kuhn’s (1970) scientific paradigm  Replication and confirmation of results  The foundation of the scientific process is that research should build on previous work, Sharing data and allowing for replication makes one’s work more likely to be taken seriously and cited more frequently (King et al., 1995).

Why use secondary data? The nature of large datasets virtually guarantees that a single researcher or group of researchers will not be able to use the dataset to its full potential for a single project. Utilizing secondary data ensures that resources spent on data collection are put to the best use possible and the public benefit is enhanced. Great value for students, postdocs, junior faculty (and others)

Secondary Data and Graduate Students Why graduate students use secondary data Why graduate instructors use secondary data in classroom ICPSR disclaimer

Graduate Students Users of Secondary Data at ICPSR User AffiliationsSpring %sSpring %s Undergraduate Student % % Graduate Student % % University/College Faculty % % University/College Staff Member % % Research Organization8403.3% % Federal Government3411.3% % Local Government2951.2% % State Government2451.0%9661.0% News Organization1000.4%4080.4% Treatment Service Provider1180.5%3540.4% Other % % TOTALS

Common Uses of Secondary Data Class Assignments Class Papers  Replication  Original Analyses Student Presentations and Publications  Sole author  Co-authored with faculty  Co-authored with students Theses and Dissertations

Replication Publication  A replication study is a valuable way to meet the goals of a graduate course (Gary King, 2006) get published help professionalize students into the discipline teach the scientific norms of the free exchange of academic information.

Elements of a replication paper (King 2006) Address a substantive problem in your field of interest Begin by locating an article in your field, acquiring the data used in the article, and replicating the specific numerical results in the tables and/or figures in that analysis Describe the extent to which you were able to replicate the author’s results After replicating, try to improve the presentation of the original results. Next, run some controlled methodological experiments designed to advance the state of knowledge about the substantive project. Replication Publication

Secondary Data at ICPSR Finding Data For Classes, Projects, Papers and Presentations  Basic Search  Browsing the Collection

Preview of Part II Paula Lantz – American’s Changing Lives James McNally – National Archive on Computerized Data on Aging Frank Stafford – Panel Study of Income Dynamics Felicia LeClere – Minority Data Resource Center and Data Sharing for Demographic Research

Thank you… Amy Pienta