Working together using this wiki

Group members

• Kris (krisk@ucla.edu)
• Libbie (email me or check out my blog)

Data and Statistical Services at UCLA

Our objective is that no matter where users start out in their research process, they can get at least some assistance, even if they are ultimately referred to another unit or person.

Basic Goals

• Provide the best data services and resources possible
• Develop in-depth knowledge, expertise and practices across campus libraries

• Collaborate in building collections relevant to the needs of our clientele in research and instruction

• Participate in information literacy initiatives; develop modules on statistical literacy

• Pursue development of access and data use tools, including DDI 
• Support data use with GIS and data representation/display

• Use metadata standards to enhance data discovery

Collaboration and Multiple Points of Access

The idea of collaboration and resource sharing has been the operating model used at UCLA since the establishment of the Archive in 1977.  Initially, from an organizational standpoint, it was necessary to depend on other units (such as the computer center) for the support that could be provided.  Each of the units described briefly above contributes to a whole.  Each unit has its specialty and working together our strengths make for a comprehensive support network for users.

Having various points of service available for solving problems and sharing ideas has proved to be beneficial to all involved.   Staff gain expertise in trying to answer questions as thoroughly as possible and are gradually able to assist with more and more complex inquiries. Since the data are accessible from virtually any venue with appropriate authentication, then having multiple physical assistance areas makes sense. Staff in different campus units have expertise in the format, content and use of data from the point of view of their local users; they can contribute this knowledge to others.  This produces an overall more indepth layering of knowledge and practices.  Tools can be developed for use in a broad range of applications using the perspectives of staff from different units.

Synergy

Overview of key players at UCLA

At UCLA data and statistical services are provided by the Institute for Social Science Research, Social Science Data Archive, the Young Research Library, Social Sciences Computing, and by the Academic and Technical Service.   Each of these units function independently, but cooperatively with the other units.  We each serve a different client base primarily, and we provide different kinds or different levels of support. At the same time, our users, collections and service do overlap.  This is a multiple-points-of-access model.  Users can go to any of the support units and at least get a start on their project, even if they are ultimately referred to one of the other areas of expertise.  See a visual of the UCLA Environment.pdf

ISSR Social Science Data Archive

Overview: The ISSR Data Archives was established in December 1977 as a service unit supporting quantitative research, primarily secondary analysis, within the Institute for Social Science Research and the greater social science community at UCLA. The Archive maintains a collection of social science data files and their documentation, coordinates the acquisition of additional data from a variety of sources, and provides access to publicly available data. The Archive is part of a network of national and international organizations, and maintains contact with researchers and data suppliers in order to be aware of new data collections, information management techniques, and new computing technology. 

The Archive is used by faculty, staff and students for research, preparation of theses and dissertations, classroom instruction, and for planning of programs or development of policies. Although the Archive serves the entire campus, it is most used by those in social sciences such as political science, economics, geography, sociology, and by those from psychology, as well as the schools of medicine, public health, education and information science, and public policy. 

Data are primarily acquired through the UCLA membership in the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR).Other sources for data include government agencies such as the National Center for Health Statistics, Bureau of the Census, National Center for Education Statistics, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Data are acquired from other archives in the United States and internationally. Researchers at UCLA can also deposit their research data for long-term preservation. Surveys conducted by the Institute for Social Science Research, such as the Los Angeles County Social Survey, are also acquired by the Archive.

Services: The Archive provides assistance in locating data and documentation as needed by researcher, students, and faculty. Users consult with Archive staff to identify research interests and to select data appropriate for specific projects. Assistance is also provided in using printed codebooks and other documentation. When useful materials have been identified, the staff makes data accessible in the computing environment and platform preferred by individual users. Technical consulting is provided for file transfer and access, and other computing questions. 

Young Research Library

Overview: "The UCLA Library provides access to and delivery of information resources to UCLA students, faculty, and staff in support of the research and instructional mission of the university. The Library develops, organizes, and preserves collections for optimal use and provides links to remote information sources. The Library provides services, including instruction for information literacy and information management, to enable its users to fulfill their academic and intellectual needs. The Library provides resources and services to non-UCLA users to the extent possible. Relying on its highly skilled staff, the Library encourages innovation, capitalizes on appropriate technologies, forges effective partnerships, and aggressively promotes excellence." From the UCLA Library Web site 

Services: The Library provides a wide-array of public services: reference assistance, research consultations by subject specialists, information literacy outreach and instruction sessions, research guides for subjects and courses, as well as a host of access services like interlibrary loan.  Collections and services are geared toward upper-division undergraduates, graduates and faculty in the humanities and social sciences (of course, undergraduates also use our collections and services).  The Young Research Library is also depository library for federal, state, local and Canadian government information, as well as for United Nations and European Union publications.  (Link handout about GI collections here) In addition to serving UC faculty, students and staff, we assist community users and researchers broadly with these materials.  Staff have various levels of knowledge and training with statistical publications and microdata and assist users accordingly.

Currently, we provide assistance with statistical materials (use of library catalog, article databases, and statistical databases (e.g. LexisNexis Statistical, WorldBank WDI, etc.) in order to help users identify appropriate statistical publications and aggregated statistical files. With greater online access of data sources (ICPSR, iPoll from Roper Center, etc.), we also provide basic "data file identification".  We refer students and faculty to the ISSR Data Archives if the question or research need requires assistance beyond identification of data sets and using codebooks and other printed documentation.  

In the past two years, librarians from the Research Library have teamed up with Data Archives staff to teach classes and workshops on Statistics and Data, Using Census Data, Using American Fact Finder (KK link handouts here).  Use of statistics and data is also being integrated in our Information Literacy Program.

Through our depository agreements we are able to collect a wide variety of statistical publications - in print and online.  Subject selectors in these areas as well as area studies, geography, political science and urban planning also purchase statistical yearbooks, aggregate data on CD-ROMs, online, zip files, etc., shape files for use with GIS, etc.

Social Sciences Computing

Overview: "Social Sciences Computing (SSC) offers a variety of services to undergraduate students, graduate students, staff, and faculty within the Social Sciences Division at UCLA. SSC strives to meet all the computing needs of faculty and staff. SSC is a full service facility offering network connectivity, email accounts, course management capabilities, software/hardware troubleshooting, administrative programming, computer security, multimedia development, specialized training/tutorial and free equipment checkout. In large departments, there is also an on-site technical advisor to help faculty and staff fulfill their computing needs quickly." From the SSC Web Site.

Services: SSC offers a wide array of support typical of a computing center, but is also an important factor in helping the Data Archive and the Library with activities and programs.  For example, SSC provides website hosting for the site maintained by the Data Archive.  The Library works with SSC when faculty wish to incorporate library materials into course web sites.  SSC has facilities for setting up streaming video, working with mobile devices, and provides access to software useful in social science research. 

Academic and Technical Services

 

Overview:  Academic and Technical Services (ATS) Statistical Computing Section "provides UCLA researchers with assistance in applied statistics, data analysis and statistical computing issues. The Statistical Consulting Group is comprised of four full-time staff with Ph.D.'s.  The consulting team has a wide range of skills and knowledge in research methodology and applied statistics.  In addition to supporting statistical software, such as SAS, Stata and SPSS, ATS also offers a variety of services, including walk-in and email consulting, web pages on statistical computing, online classes and seminars, periodic live seminars, and statistics books for loan. The goal is to help UCLA researchers solve their problems in statistical computing while helping them enhance their skills for performing excellent research.  In addition, ATS online resources are available for researchers and statistical consulting centers around the world." From the ATS Web Site.

Services: ATS manages a tremendous array of statistical computing resources. There is online and in person training and tutorials for statistical software and for performing specialized statistical techniques.  Users from the Data Archive are often referred to ATS when they need advanced assistance.  Collaboration between ATS and the Archive has ensured that users get complete support.  ATS supports the Archive in its Research Computing Technologies section by providing storage for the entire Archive collection of data. The security system in place assures that the collection is protected from loss or intrusion, and that only authorized users can download data from the Data Archive web site.