FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Ordering Data | Opening Data Files | Citation of the Data | Finding Data | Depositing Data - Main Guidelines | Depositing Data - In Practice | Archive | Administration |

Ordering Data

Can I order several datasets simultaneously?

Yes. There are no limitations to the number of datasets ordered at a time. See also Ordering Data.

How do I gain access to the data?

By filling in two application forms: the Access Application and the Agreement on Material Use Conditions. The data will be delivered in the format you prefer: by post in a floppy disk or CD, as an e-mail attachment file or an SFTP transfer.

What formats are the data available in?

FSD can deliver the data in a variety of formats. Usually datasets are sent in SPSS portable format and codebooks as PDF files. A list of available formats can be found on the FSD Web site. If you prefer a format not mentioned in the list, please contact our staff.

Can I order data in English?

Yes, we translate data into English when required, free of charge. It may take a few weeks. Please note that many datasets have already been translated into English. The translated datasets have a codebook which you can access through the link on the study description page of the dataset.

Can I order data, even though I have a Macintosh computer?

Yes, you can, but please consult FSD about data formats for delivery.

How quickly will I receive the data?

Usually it takes a few days before you receive it. If permission from the depositor is required, or the data must be translated into English, it will take longer.

Who can obtain data?

FSD releases archived data for scientific research and teaching, for example, to researchers, teachers and students. Data are not disseminated for commercial purposes.

Can students order data?

Yes. FSD delivers data for master's theses and term papers. However, students need to discuss this with their supervisor before ordering. See Ordering Data.

Can FSD help me to obtain data from other archives?

Yes. FSD can help Finnish researchers and students as well as people working in Finnish universities to acquire data from other data archives. People not living in Finland can contact FSD if they want to gain access to Finnish data, but in the case of cross-national surveys like ISSP or Eurobarometers, they should contact the data archive in their country of residence.

How much does ordering and using the data cost?

At the moment, FSD's services are free of charge.

Opening Data Files

How do I open e-mail attachments?

You should save attachments to your hard disk before opening them. Please see instructions on opening other kinds of files below.

How do I open an SPSS portable file?

In order to display a portable file in an SPSS programme, choose File -> Open -> Data and change the file type to SPSS portable (*.por). In 'My Computer' you can open the file by clicking on the file name with the right button of the mouse, and then choosing Open and the programme you want to open the file with (e.g. SPSS Manager).

The data was delivered as an e-mail attachment in Zip format. What is it and how do I open it?

Zip files are compressed. Windows XP can open zip files. Alternatively you can use a separate programme for uncompressing files (e.g. PowerArchiver or WinZip). First, save the attached zip file to the hard disk of your computer, open 'My Computer' and double-click on the saved zip file. Now a box displays all the files it contains. Click on the file you want to unzip (you can select several files by keeping Ctrl pressed down) and press the icon Extract. Finally, choose the folder where you want to place the unzipped files and click on Extract. Unzipped files can be opened, for example, by double-clicking on the file name. Please note that the unzipped files have kept their original filenames in the process.

Why am I not able to open questionnaires and codebooks on the Internet?

Questionnaires and codebooks which are in PDF format usually open on a browser window or a separate programme window without any problems. However, sometimes they do not. If questionnaires and codebooks do not open directly into your browser window, click on their link with the right button of the mouse, choose Save Target As, save the file and open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Citation of the Data

The data I received came with citation information. What do I need it for?

Data have to be cited just like any other source of information. FSD provides data re-users with a citation model for each delivered dataset. Citation information can be found in the description and codebook of the data. You may adapt the citation (see the next question).

How do I cite the data in publications?

In the list of references, whenever possible, use the citation model given by FSD. The model can also be adapted to the citation style required by the publisher or publication, but each element mentioned in the FSD model has to be included. Though, when it comes to texts and tables, you can apply the publisher's instructions. Versions of a dataset can be compared to editions of a book.

Finding Data

Where do I find information about data archived at FSD?

Datasets can be found by browsing through the FSD data catalogue, by using FSD's own search engine, or by searching via Nesstar or Tampere University Library's TAMCAT database. Links and more information: Searching data.

What is NESSTAR?

Nesstar is a search interface and publication tool, developed by Nesstar Ltd in co-operation with European data archives. It allows searches limited to certain fields, such as titles, keywords and variable names.

Depositing Data - Main Guidelines

What kinds of datasets are archived at FSD?

FSD archives social science research data that are estimated to be of significance for teaching and research purposes. The data must be in electronic format. Both quantitative and qualitative data are archived.

What are the benefits of depositing data with FSD?

Archiving a dataset guarantees its future usability, even when the software and equipment originally used for storing the data have become outdated. FSD staff checks all deposited datasets, and any supplementary material (e.g. questionnaires and coding instructions) is also archived.

Can I set conditions on the use of the data?

Yes, depositors can stipulate conditions of the archiving and re-use in the Deposition agreement.

Depositing Data - In Practice

If I want to deposit data with FSD, what do I have to do first?

Contact the archive.

Do you archive quantitative data only? What about qualitative data?

FSD archives qualitative datasets in Finnish. They are not translated into other languages. You can take a look at our the quantitative and qualitative data by browsing our data catalogue.

What material do I have to submit to FSD, when I deposit data?

In addition to the actual data, any supplementary material (e.g. questionnaire, coding instructions, and information about the data collection procedure) is useful. You also have to fill in the Dataset Description and Deposition Agreement forms. FSD staff can help filling in the forms.

Administration

Who funds FSD?

FSD is mainly funded by the Ministry of Education of Finland. FSD is a separate unit of the University of Tampere, and receives funding from the university. The university is also responsible for the premises costs, for example.

FSD is a national institute then?

Yes. In addition, it provides international scientific community with information and data on Finland.

When was FSD founded?

The archive began operating in 1999.

How many staff are employed by FSD?

FSD has 13 permanent employees. There are other staff members working on fixed-term contracts. Contact information.

What kind of people work at FSD?

Staff members have diverse educational background: sociology, economics, political studies, information studies, statistics, information technology and mathematics. Most permanent employees have a master's degree, some a PhD.