Data Library

Humanities & Social Sciences Library
University of Alberta

The University of Alberta Data Library provides access to quantitative computer-readable research data from various disciplines in the social sciences, humanities, and life sciences.  Data Library staff provide assistance with the location, retrieval, and use of data files in the Data Library collection, as well as assistance with the acquisition of data files held elsewhere.

Data files are restricted to use by current University of Alberta students, faculty and staff, and are for non-commercial use only.  Please note and observe any further data use restrictions associated with particular datasets.

To obtain information on statisical resources available through the University of Alberta Library, click here.

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How to Search for Data

These web pages may be used to search for and identify datasets available to Data Library clients:

• Statistics Canada is the primary source for Canadian demographic & socio-economic data. The entire Statistics Canada website may be searched for data, or more specific tools can be used:
• BiblioCat is Statistics Canada's online library catalogue.  Tip: limit 'search medium' to 'computer file'.
• To identify data files available to Data Library clients for free via the Data Liberation Initiative (DLI), search here.
• To see if a particular data file has been released to the public, search The Daily, Statistics Canada's news bulletin.
• The contents of the Census of Canada are indexed here.
  
• The Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) maintains and provides access to a vast archive of (primarily American) social science data.  Search the ICPSR data catalogue here.  ICPSR datasets already held by the Data Library may be located by searching the University of Alberta Library catalogue.  Tip: search by keyword, using the terms 'ICPSR and data'.
  
• In addition to social science research data, the Data Library also provides access to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and digital spatial data.  A list of GIS resources available to U/A clients is provided here.
  
• The University of Alberta participates in the Research Data Centres (RDC) program, an initiative by Statistics Canada, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and university consortia to help strengthen Canada's social research capacity by providing approved researchers with secured access to longitudinal microdata from Canadian population and household surveys.  Further information on the RDCs, access restrictions, and a list of available data sets, is here.
  
• The Population Research Laboratory (PRL) is a centre for social science research at the University of Alberta, conducting research in the areas of social policy, health, population, education and public opinion.  The Data Library is a distributor of the PRL's annual All Alberta Survey.
  
• The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research offers public opinion poll data (primarily American as well as some Canadian).  Search for datasets here.  An additional database of US public opinion data is available through the Roper Center's iPoll. 
  
• The Metropolis Project offers members-only access to data and other resources related to research and policy on Canadian immigration, diversity, and changing cities.

To obtain datasets identified in the above sources, contact the Data Library Co-ordinator, or see the available self-serve download links below.

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How to Retrieve Data

Two kinds of data are available to Data Library clients: microdata and aggregate data.  Microdata comprise of  information on each individual, household, business, etc., responding to a survey, with codes (usually numbers) representing the response to  each question asked.  Microdata are analysed using statistical software such as SPSS or SAS.  Aggregate data are summary-level data, the result of applying statistical analyses to microdata.  Aggregate data are commonly referred to interchangeably with the term ‘statistics’. 

Microdata

Statistics Canada microdata may be downloaded directly from:

• DLI – various Canadian demographic and economic datasets.
• LANDRU – University of Calgary’s automated data retrieval system offering access to Census and DLI data.

 ICPSR

• ICPSR microdata covering a wide variety of American, Canadian, and international socio-economic topics can be downloaded through ICPSR Direct.

 All Alberta Surveys

• Public opinion polls conducted by the U/A Population Research Lab dating back to 1987 are downloadable here.

Aggregate Data, Including Selected Titles

• Canadian Business Patterns  - detailed data on Canada's business community provided by Statistics Canada.
  
• Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics - Statistics Canada database of current and historical data on crime, police administration, adult and youth court activity, and the correctional population and transition homes, as well as on various issues such as criminal victimization and family violence.
  
• CANSIM II - large time series database of current and historical data collected on a wide variety of socio-economic subjects by Statistics Canada as well as other government agencies such as the Bank of Canada. Includes access to Frequently Requested Series. 
  
• CANSIM I - large time series database of historical data collected on a  wide variety of socio-economic subjects by Statistics Canada and other government agencies such as the Bank of Canada.  This database was last updated September 2001, and has been superceded by CANSIM II.
  
• Census of Canada, 2001 (U/A interface) - offers more specific geographic profile detail to U/A clients. 
  
• Census of Canada, 2001 (Statistics Canada interface) - more download options, online documentation, digital maps.
  
• Census of Canada, 1996 (U/A interface) - offers more specific geographic profile detail to U/A clients. 
  
• Census of Canada, 1996 (Statistics Canada interface) - more download options, online documentation, digital maps.
  
• Center for Research in Security Prices (CRSP) - database providing access to NYSE/AMEX/Nasdaq daily and monthly security prices and other historical data related to over 20,000 companies. 
  
• E-STAT - Statistics Canada database providing data on most Canadian topics.  Articles and statistical tables are listed by subject (click on ‘articles’ or on ‘data’, then on the subject of your choice).  Articles are drawn from such publications as The Canada Year Book, The Daily, and Canadian Social Trends.  The statistical tables are from CANSIM II, the Census of Canada, and other surveys.  Mapping and graphing functions are available.
  
• Health Indicators - over 80 indicators of the health status of Canadians at the regional, provincial, and national level.  The 1996 edition is accessed through the Data Library.  More recent editions are accessed through Statistics Canada.
  
• Profile of Edmonton Neighbourhoods 1996 - Census of Canada special product formatted to provide data at the ‘neighbourhood name’ level.
  
• Profile of Edmonton Neighbourhoods 2001 - Census of Canada special product formatted to provide data at the ‘neighbourhood name’ level.