Search DSS

Finding Data: Data on Science, Technology, Computers, Internet

ACCESS TO THESE DATA FILES ARE RESTRICTED TO CURRENTLY ENROLLED/EMPLOYED MEMBERS OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY.

• 'Brain Drain' Debate in the United Kingdom, c.1950-1970
  Qualitative project. Sought to provide an analysis of the 'brain drain' debate of the 1950s and 1960s as a social phenomenon. The term 'brain drain' was adopted in the 1960s in the context of concerns the United Kingdom was losing skilled scientific and engineering personnel to other countries. Although the term is used in a variety of academic, policy and popular discussions about the international mobility of scientists, this project sought to rectify the absence of scholarly literature analyzing the original 'brain drain' debate. Comprised of 19 oral history interviews with scientists and engineers who emigrated to the United States or Canada in the 1950s or 1960s as well as British policymakers involved in any way in the 'brain drain' debate at this time. Also included is the transcript of a 'witness seminar' that brought officials and former emigres together to discuss their recollections. To obtain a free account please register with the UKDA.

• Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI) Database
  Agricultural R&D indicators for developing countries.

• Audit Bureau of Circulations
  PDF reports of circulation statistics for newspapers, journals, and web publications.

• AUTM licensing survey (1991-2003)
  Survey of U.S. and Canadian universities, hospitals, research institutions and patent management firms. Survey results are reported in a summary report and comprehensive report. The comprehensive report, referred to as the Full Report, contains the Survey Summary and includes tables that present data obtained from individual respondents on an institution-by-institution basis.The CD-ROMs contain survey data for each fiscal year in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.

• Biennial Media Consumption Survey (1998-2002)
  Data on the public's use of, and attitudes toward, the Internet and traditional news outlets.

• Canadian Internet Use Survey (2005, 2007)
  Measures the extent and scope to which individual Canadians use the Internet. Includes the location of use, the frequency and intensity of use, the specific uses of the Internet from the home, the purchase of products and services (electronic commerce), and other issues related to Internet use (such as concerns over privacy). Supplemented by information on socio-demographic characteristics (e.g., age, income, education) and some geographic detail.

• Computer, internet and mobile phone survey (2004) (Palestine)
  Provides data on possession of PCs, TV sets, telecommunication means and satellite dishes; access to the Internet; prevalence of computers and access to the Internet; possession and use of recreational devices; participants' recreational and leisure activities; permeation of newspapers and magazines; and participants' tendency towards TV and radio stations. The survey was conducted in July and August 2004.

  Sample Size: 7,557 households (4, 992 households in the West Bank and 2,565 households in the Gaza Strip)

• Current Population Survey: Computer and Internet Usage Supplement
  The Current Population Survey (CPS) is a monthly survey of about 50,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This supplement, conducted irregularly since 1984, contains data on home and workplace computer equipment, computer usage and Internet usage.

• General Social Survey (Canada)
  Surveys from a sample selected across the 10 provinces. The 2 primary objectives are a) to gather data on social trends in order to monitor changes in the living conditions and wellbeing of Canadians over time; and b) to provide immediate information on specific social policy issues of current or emerging interest. Each survey contains a core topic, focus or exploratory questions and a standard set of socio-demographic questions used for classification. More recent cycles have also included some qualitative questions which explore perceptions. For all cycles except Cycle 16, the population aged 15 and older has been sampled. Cycle 16 only sampled persons aged 45 and older. Until 1998, the sample size was approximately 10,000 persons. This was increased in 1999 to 25,000.
  Cycle 1, Health and social support, 1985. Codebook (DSS) HN103.5.G463 1985
  Cycle 2, Time use, social mobility and language use, 1986
  Cycle 3, Personal risk, 1988
  Cycle 4, Education, work and retirement, 1989
  Cycle 5, Family and friends, 1990
  Cycle 6, Health, 1991. Codebook (DSS) HN103.5.G463 1991
  Cycle 7, Time use, 1992
  Cycle 8, Personal risk, 1993
  Cycle 9, Education, work and retirement, 1994
  Cycle 10. Family, 1995
  Cycle 11, Social and community support, 1996
  Cycle 12, Time use, 1998
  Cycle 13, Victimization, 1999
  Cycle 14, Access to and use of information communication, 2000
  Cycle 15, Family history, 2001
  Cycle 16, Aging and social support, 2002
  Cycle 17, Social engagement, 2003
  Cycle 18, Victimization, 2004.
  Cycle 19, Time use, 2005.
  Cycle 20, Family Transitions, 2006.
  

• Great Plains Population and Environment Data (1870-2000)
  Collected information about approximately 500 counties in 12 states of the Great Plains of the United States, and then to analyze those data in order to understand the relationships between population and environment that existed between 1870-2000. The data distributed here are all data about counties. They fall into 4 broad categories: about the counties, about agriculture, about demographic and social conditions, and about the environment. The information about counties (name, area, identification code, and whether we classified the county as part of the Great Plains in a given year) are embedded in each of the other data files, so that there will be 3 series of data (agriculture, demographic and social conditions, and environment), with individual data files for each year for which data are available.

• ICT Diffusion and Distribution Dataset, 1990-2007
  Contains 2 types of indicators for the global distribution of information, communication and technology (ICT) resources. Includes gini coefficients for the distribution of Internet access within countries, and a technology diffusion index that weights the distribution of broadband subscribers, personal computers, mobile phones, Internet users, and international Internet bandwidth by economic output.

• International Comparative Study on the Management, Productivity, and Effectiveness of Research Teams and Institutions (ICSOPRU), 1971-1989
  Aimed to improve the management of research teams and institutions and increase awareness of their responsibility concerning proper application of research results. Concrete objectives were twofold: (1) on the international level, to make widely available comparable facts and experiences concerning the management of research teams and to promote multilateral as well as bilateral cooperation in this field, and (2) on the national level to provide all those concerned (science policy-makers, research managers, scientists, engineers) with substantive information on the state of their national research potential and to encourage them, on the basis of this information compared eventually with similar information from other countries, to take self-corrective actions as needed to improve the level of effectiveness and productivity of the research teams and institutions. 17 countries from Africa, the Arab States, Asia, Europe and Latin America took part. There were 4 stages or rounds of data collection: 6 countries (Austria, Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Poland, Sweden) in Round 1 (February-September 1974), 6 countries (Argentina, Egypt, India, Republic of Korea [South], Poland, Ukrainian S.S.R.) in Round 2 (June 1978-September 1981), 5 countries (Brazil, India, Nigeria, Spain, Ukrainian S.S.R.) in Round 3 (October 1981-November 1985), and 4 countries (China, Ghana, Hungary, Mexico) in Round 4 (May 1985- June 1987). Each round of questionnaires had different items (except for Rounds 2 and 3 which were the same). Round 1 items included general administrative information relevant to the research units answered by the administrator of the unit, scientific information on the research unit and information relevant to the unit's head answered by the head of the unit, individual information answered by scientists and engineers of the unit, individual information answered by technicians of the unit, and external evaluation of the research units from various scientific and administrative perspectives answered by external evaluators. Rounds 2 and 3 included general information about the research unit answered by the head of the unit, information on the respondent and his or her evaluation of the research unit's management, items on productivity and effectiveness answered by head of the unit along with scientists, engineers, and technicians of the unit, EV-rating of the research unit's effectiveness on a series of dimensions dealing with scientific or social criteria and administrative criteria answered by external evaluators. The 4th round of questionnaires included information on the institutional environment of the research unit answered by the head of the institution, general information on the research unit answered by the head of the unit, information on the respondent and his or her evaluation of the research unit's management, items on productivity and effectiveness answered by the head of the unit, scientists, engineers, and technicians.

• National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) 1989+
  Employment-based, random survey of the demographic, employment, and health characteristics of the U.S. crop labor force. Information is obtained directly from farm workers through face-to-face interviews. Since 1988, when the survey began, nearly 50,000 workers have been interviewed. Samples crop workers in 3 cycles each year to reflect the seasonality of agricultural production and employment. Workers are located at their farm job sites. During the initial contact, arrangements are made to interview the respondent at home or at another location convenient to the respondent.

  Sample Size: 1,500 to 4,000 workers are interviewed each year.

• National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses
  Conducted approximately every 4 years since 1977.

• National Science Foundation Surveys of Public Understanding of Science and Technology
  Have been used to monitor public attitudes toward a variety of science-related issues and topics since 1979. Also used to gauge how much the public knows about science and the scientific process, how interested people are in science, and where they get information about science. The core questions from the past eleven surveys (1979, 1983, 1981, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2001) have been combined into one easy to use data set. Does not include every question asked across the 11 surveys, but does cover core repeated questions.

  Free registration required.

• ONS Omnibus Survey (1990+)
  Regular, multi-purpose survey for the United Kingdom. Each month's questionnaire consists of 2 elements: core questions, covering demographic information, are asked each month together with non-core questions that vary from month to month. Topical modules have included topics such as changes in family circumstances, contraception use, flexible working and leave arrangements, internet use, attendance and participation in the arts, smoking, social capital needs, and time use. To obtain a free account please register with the UKDA.

• Pew Internet & American Life Project
  Produces reports that explore the impact of the Internet on families, communities, work and home, daily life, education, health care, and civic and political life. Raw data are released 6 months after a survey report has been published.

• Researching Environmental Economics at Princeton University
  Guide to environmental economics.

• Roper Center - Public Opinion on Space Exploration
  Selection of surveysthat look at how the American people feel about the money spent on space exploration; the practicality of a space based defense; the value of learning if there were ever living creatures on Mars; and if they believe in UFOs and beings from other planets.

• Russian Sociological Data Archive
  Includes data from many Russian institutes. Most documentation is in Russian. Summary data and data analysis tools are provided free on the site. For microdata, requests must be seen to the Archive. Wide variety of surveys including ones on reform, economics, social views, culture, politics, religion, labor, scientists, women, and young people.

• Scientific Career Transitions: from Public to Private Sector Science, 2004-2007
  Focused on research scientists who had moved between public and private sector contexts. In particular, the following groups were examined: university scientists who were engaged in setting up spin out companies; scientists who had moved from the public sector to young, entrepreneurial companies; and those who had moved to large established companies. (Free registration is required through the UK Data Archive)

• Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System (1993-1999, 2003)
  In addition to SESTAT, a comprehensive and integrated system of information about the employment, educational, and demographic characteristics of scientists and engineers, this site also makes available several surveys of recipients of higher education. They include:
  
  • National Survey of Recent College Graduates (2001, 2003)
  • Survey of Doctorate Recipients (2001, 2003 )
  • National Survey of College Graduates (1993, 2003)

• Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering
  Provides data on the number and characteristics of students in graduate science and engineering and health-related fields enrolled in U.S. institutions. Assesses trends in financial support patterns and shifts in graduate enrollment and postdoctoral appointments.

• Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) (1995+)
  Provides reliable and timely data on the mathematics and science achievement of U.S. 4th- and 8th-grade students compared to that of students in other countries. Collected in 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. Next round of collection will be in 2011.

• UK Data Archive. Science and Technology Data.
  Various science and technology data sets from the United Kingdom Data Archive. To obtain a free account please register with the UKDA. Not all data is available outside the United Kingdom but most is.