European Social Survey Documenting data processing and version control: The European Social Survey Introduction to the ESS Data processing and documentation Version control and documentation Hilde Orten – ESS Data Team at NSD Presentation held at the CESSDA expert seminar – Neuchâtel 09/

European Social Survey ESS The European Social Survey (ESS) is an academically driven multi- country survey Covering over 20 nations Fielded every second year Funded by the European Union, The European Science Foundation and academic funding bodies in each participating country Free and immediate acces to data and documents for all from the ESS Data Web Site:

European Social Survey Aims Substantial: to chart and explain the interaction between Europe's changing institutions and the attitudes, beliefs and behaviour patterns of its diverse populations Methodological: to develop and apply high methodological standards for cross-national survey research

European Social Survey Efforts to enhance quality of data: Face-to-face interviewing Specialist advicory teams Data protocol,Standards Documents Interactive data processing Archive/National Teams Availability of data and meta data at the www

European Social Survey Data processing and documentation: A transparent and interactive process: Data check, editing and validation is accomplished in interaction between the Archive (NSD) and the National Team of each participating country Standardized contact procedure between NSD and the National Teams Standardized data processing (work) procedure and programmes The data processing is documented in a two-step Data Processing Report

European Social Survey WORK PROCESS ESS DATA TEAM NATIONAL TEAM No deposit No deposit, reminder to NT Deposited Deposit confirmed to NT Content check Content check, pending NT feedback Content check complete Content check summary produced Data editing Data editing, pending NT feedback Data editing complete Edit summary produced Awaiting approval of draft from NT Draft approved File ready for integrated file Included in integrated file Response confirmed Response to report Data editing p. 6-8Missing/error Data editing p. 9 Validation of draft by NC Data processing report step 2 Country draft file Conf. agreementResponse to Conf.a. Missing/error Draft approveCountry draft file ready for integrated file Content check p. 3 Data deposit Missing/error Deposit confirmed Content check p. 4-5 Data processing report step 1 Reminder The figure illustrates the ESS data processing work flow at NSD, as well as the communication between the National Teams and NSD from ”no file deposit” to inclusion of country file in the international integrated file Every participating country is assigned a primary contact person from the ESS Data Team at NSD The contact person takes care of the processing of the country’s data, and communicates with the National Team The data processing is accomplished in two steps: 1. A data check process and 2. A data editing process -Each step resulting in a Data processing summary The data processing summaries from the two steps make up the Data Processing Report

European Social Survey Documenting the data processing: During the data processing period: The Data Processing Report, all programmes used etc. are made available for the National Teams during the data processing period through the European Social Survey Archive Web Site: After the data processing period: The Data Processing Reports, all programmes used, e- mails etc. are stored at NSD

European Social Survey What is published about NSD’s data processing work at the ESS Data Web Site ( and in Nesstar? Information of the extent of processing checks and missing values The handling of detected deviations Version notes We are handling deviations in three ways: Flagging Removing deviating variables from the integrated file, keeping the information in a country specific file Creating a new variable with a country- specific name in the integrated file Three ways of accessing information of how deviations have been handled at NSD: The Data Processing Report The Fieldwork Summary and deviations link Online presentation of data and documentation together in Nesstar

European Social Survey In the Data Processing Report under ”Survey documentation” you will find information about detected deviations

European Social Survey

The link ”Fieldwork Summary and deviations” leads you to information about detected deviations, as well as to a link to further details

European Social Survey

Under ”On-line browsing and download” you will get access to information about detected deviations through Nesstar

European Social Survey

Version control: Information to the users about new versions: All registred users are ed about updates on the ESS Data Web Site The version notes describe all updates of the ESS Round 1 data from the first edition to the most recent one All versions of the ESS Round 1 data are produced at NSD All programmes used etc. are stored at NSD

European Social Survey ESS1 edition 05 ESS1 edition 01 Online documentation of versions: There are three ways of accessing this documentation of versions from the ESS Data Web Site: The Data Processing Report under ”Survey documentation” The 25Version notes link Online documentation of versions in Nesstar under ”On-line browsing and download”