Data Collections

RDL Data Collections

The RDL Data Collection is comprised primarily of computer-readable data files and their accompanying documentation (also known as codebooks).

The data collection is stored remotely or on the Abacus Data Services server, and may be accessed directly by users. Some Reference copies of data documentation may be available for consultation in the RDL. Most of the data documentation accompanying data files are available in PDF format on the Abacus Data Server.

The Research Data Library's collection is obtained from two main data sources: Statistics Canada (for Canadian data) via our memebership in the Data Liberation Initiative (DLI) ; and the ICPSR (Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research).

The Research Data Library  provides access to DLI data files, suitable for use with statistical packages such as SPSS, SAS or STATA, in several different ways:

* Researchers may directly download a survey (including documentation) for analysis, and/or

* Create subsets of various files through the Nesstar platform available via the Abacus data serivices.

* Some selected  survey files are also available as CD-ROM Products, and may have various access tools (B20/20, SPSS, Excel)

Statistics Canada data includes previous and current Censuses of Canada, CANSIM, the National Population Health Survey, the Social Survey Programme, and much more

ICPSR data includes primarily American and international data, along with major international social surveys such as the International National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, the Health and Activity Limitation Survey, and many more surveys and other data files. Please contact the RDL data Librarian if you require further information on what is available .