FAQs

Open Access datasets are made available under a CC BY licence and can be freely downloaded.

Restricted Access datasets can be requested by our Designated Community. ISSDA’s Designated Community consists of higher education institutions (HEIs) and research-performing organisations (RPOs) across multiple sectors and jurisdictions with broad relevance to the Social Sciences and Public Health. 

Where restricted access datasets contain pseudonymised or deidentified personal data ISSDA can only supply data in response to requests from within the EEA or from countries with an adequacy decision in place. (opens in a new window)See the EU information on countries with an adequacy decision.(opens in a new window)  

Any access restrictions are listed under the 'Terms' tab in the ‘Restrictions’ field of the 'Dataset Terms'.

Why is data being restricted in this way?

The European Union has set clear legal guidelines for the transferring of personal data to third countries (those outside the EEA). Where datasets contain pseudonymised personal data within the meaning of (opens in a new window)Article 4 of the GDPR ISSDA must follow these guidelines. (opens in a new window)Find out more information in the Data Commission guidelines on transferring personal data to third countries.  

I am from a non-EEA/adequacy decision country, does this mean I won't be able to access the data I need for my research?

Where the datasets contain personal data covered by GDPR ISSDA cannot supply you with the dataset.

What if some members of my research team are based in a non-EEA country?

It is the legal responsibility of the data requestor to ensure that the dataset is not supplied to anyone in a non-EEA or adequacy decision country. This is covered by the terms of the End User Licence you have signed and agreed to.

If I was previously granted access to the data while in a non-EEA country can I still receive any updates to the dataset?

Unfortunately we are unable to supply any updates to datasets to researchers in non-EEA countries. 

Your access to the data has only been  approved for using the data within the institution and country listed on your original application. ISSDA cannot approve the movement of data to a new institution outside the EEA. Approval would have to be sought from the data provider. Please be aware that ISSDA is outside of the process and cannot approve the transfer of data outside the EEA.

Some datasets can be used for teaching purposes, but not all. Please check the individual dataset, if it can be used for teaching this will be displayed in the ‘Notes’ field and under the ‘Terms’ tab. There is a separate request form for teaching purposes, and you can find a link on the individual dataset, where applicable. Teaching Request forms must be used if you plan on using the data in a classroom situation. This covers sharing of data with students in a classroom situation and the use of the data for an associated assignment for educational credit. Teaching requests are approved on a once-off module/workshop basis. Subsequent occurrences of the module/workshop require a new teaching request form. 

If a student wishes to publish formally in a journal etc. afterwards as a separate research project (i.e. outside the module requirements/assignment), then an additional individually signed ISSDA Data Request Form for Research Purposes from the student would subsequently be required.

ISSDA is unable to supply data for commercial purposes.

If the dataset you are looking for isn’t in the ISSDA Dataverse try looking in the list of Datasets not in ISSDA Dataverse [Link to a listing of datasets not in ISSDA Dataverse]. If the dataset is listed here please email (opens in a new window)issda@ucd.ie with the name and study number of the dataset for the next steps to access the data.

Accessing data through ISSDA is a free service - there is no charge.

Only the Anonymised Microdata File (AMF) or Pseudonymised Microdata File (PMF) is lodged with ISSDA. Access to the more detailed Researcher Microdata File (RMF), is available only from the data provider. In some cases access is by on-site appointment only. Please note that making an application does not imply that access will be granted. Gaining access to the RMF may also take some time.

Where an RMF is available from the data depositor further details are available in the Notes field on the dataset record.

N.B. Access to the RMF is strictly controlled and requires an application and clearance process and is subject to the full rigour and penalties of the (opens in a new window)Statistics Act, 1993.

Open Access datasets can be downloaded directly from the ISSDA website.

For Restricted Access datasets follow these steps -

1. Register an account on the ISSDA Dataverse[Link to login page]
2. Click on the “Request Access” button in the dataset
3. Download and submit a ISSDA data request form available under the dataset ‘Terms’ tab  to (opens in a new window)issda@ucd.ie for review by the ISSDA team
4. Once your request has been approved you shall be able to download the dataset directly through the ISSDA Dataverse.

Please see our Dataverse guide [insert link] for further information on using the Dataverse platform.

The form needs to be signed by you (the End User) as it is an End User Licence Agreement. If the Lead End User is a Ph.D, masters or undergraduate then the End User Licence must be countersigned by their supervisor. The form must also be signed on behalf of your organisation. All members of the Research Team, individuals accessing or using the dataset, must be listed on the form.

Please ensure you complete and sign all sections including names on page 1 and signatures on page 9. Please complete this form in MS Word or similar and converted to a “pdf” format, do not print to complete. 

Please note that any reference to signature in this document can be read as meaning an electronic signature.

Do you require hand-completed signatures?

We do not require hand-completed signatures. You can sign the form by typing your name directly onto the form. With regards to institutional signatures these can also be typed but please note it is the responsibility of the Lead Researcher to ensure that the appropriate  permission has been obtained to sign in this way.

Do I really need a signature from someone in my organisation? 

Yes. This is a mandatory section of the form.

Is it OK for my lecturer or supervisor to sign on behalf of the organisation?

No. You will need to get the signature of someone at the head of school/department level. You may also get a signature from your institution's research office. 

Who can sign for the research organisation?

Someone who is authorised by your organisation to sign for the institution, including but not limited to Head of School/College/Faculty/Department, Head/Dean of Research/Research Support. By signing, they acknowledge and accept the statements within the agreement and confirm that they are duly authorised by the Research Organisation to enter into the End User Licence.

Once you have been granted access to a dataset, you will be able to download the data files from our Dataverse. For further guidance please review our Dataverse User Guide[insert link]

Once your application form has been signed and we are satisfied with your intended use of the data, we can begin processing your request. Datasets are typically delivered within 5 working days.

If you are trying to log in via your institution and need to reset the password for your institutional login, please contact your on-campus IT support service as this cannot be done via Dataverse.

If you have logged in using a local account you can request a password reset through the Dataverse system. This will generate a password reset email. Follow the instructions to reset your password. 

Edit Account

1. To edit your account after you have logged in, click on your account name in the header on the right hand side and click on Account Information.
2. On the top right of your account page, click on the “Edit Account” button and from there you can select to edit either your Account Information or your Account Password.
3. Select “Save Changes” when you are done.

Please note that you cannot edit your account information within the Dataverse installation if you use the Institutional Log In option. Instead, you should contact your institution to change your name, email, etc. Once the change is made by your institution, it will be reflected in the Dataverse installation the next time you log in. Users of the Institutional Log In option are not required to verify their email address because the institution providing the email address is trusted.

You can distribute the dataset to colleagues who you have already listed on the ISSDA Data Request Form.

If you wish to add new colleagues to an existing project please fill in the Section 4: Additional Users of the ISSDA Data Request Form and End User Licence. Please resubmit your original ISSDA Data Request Form with the completed addendum to (opens in a new window)issda@ucd.ie. All additional users are bound by the same terms and conditions as the original End User and  “Research Team”.

No, you must only use the dataset as stated in the original request. Should you require access to the dataset for other research projects please submit another application form to us at (opens in a new window)issda@ucd.ie.

Data held by ISSDA is distributed in a range of formats including comma separated values (CSV), SPSS, SAS or Stata formats. Dataverse allows for datafiles to be downloaded in the format in which they were deposited (SPSS, etc) or in a archival format which is a tab-separated value file. The metadata which describes the content of these datafiles is separately stored in an XML file. Together this information can be read into SPSS or Stata as well as into other applications. Within the ISSDA Dataverse data files are marked with a grey ‘Data’ tag and the file format tag e.g. SPSS.

Please check the relevant dataset to check the format of the data before making your request, as it is not possible to supply data in additional formats.

Can I get the data in a different format?

Unfortunately we cannot change the format for you. 

The following resources may be of use:

(opens in a new window)Institute for Digital Research and Education’s webpage on converting among SAS, Stata and SPSS files. 

(opens in a new window)The Kent State University SPSS Tutorial: Importing Data into SPSS guide on importing data stored in an Excel (XLS or XLSX) or comma-delimited (CSV) file into SPSS.

What accompanying documentation is available?

Datasets are accompanied by documentation such as questionnaires, codebooks or summary guides to assist in understanding and using the data. Within the ISSDA Dataverse they are marked with a grey ‘Documentation’ tag and the type of documentation tag e.g. Questionnaire.

In general, in order to be able to access data for the different studies you need to open it using the appropriate software. For example, a dataset that comes in the format of SPSS  needs to be opened using SPSS software, a dataset that comes in an SAS format needs to opened using SAS software.

Please check the relevant dataset to check the format of the data before making your request, as it is not possible to supply data in additional formats.

The following resources may be of use - 

(opens in a new window)Institute for Digital Research and Education’s webpage on converting among SAS, Stata and SPSS files. 

(opens in a new window)The Kent State University SPSS Tutorial: Importing Data into SPSS guide on importing data stored in an Excel (XLS or XLSX) or comma-delimited (CSV) file into SPSS

Due to data protection policies and legislation, including GDPR and Irish Data Protection Law, data providers may have omitted some variables from their dataset. In some instances the documentation associated with the dataset will list the omitted variables.

In some cases the omitted variables maybe available in the Research Microdata Files (RMF) available directly from the data provider. Please see the individual dataset for more information.

Please check the following:

• Codebook, data dictionary, survey
• Any other documentation provided by ISSDA
• Project’s own website
• Your MA / PhD supervisor
• Consider whether data may be missing due to anonymisation/pseudonymisation
• Consider whether data may be missing because you are looking for a derived variable

If you are still having problems please contact ISSDA at (opens in a new window)issda@ucd.ie – where possible we will pass your specific query on to the original research team for you.

Do you provide any help on data analysis?

We are unfortunately not in a position to be able to assist with data analysis.

Your access to the data will remain active until the specified end use by date (Project Expiry Date) listed on your request form (maximum of 5 years). You will be able to download the data at any point during your project term. After the end of project date you must delete all the files that you have received. Within 30 days of your Project Expiry Date ISSDA will send you a Confirmation of Data Destruction Form. We kindly ask that you return this form to (opens in a new window)issda@ucd.ie no later than 7 days after the Project Expiry Date. If additional time is needed to complete the project please contact (opens in a new window)issda@ucd.ie.

The data and any copies (including data in the cloud/server folders, all backup and historical copies of the data) must be destroyed using a method that will render the data unreadable through the use of an appropriate mechanical, physical or electronic process and converted into such a form that cannot be reconstructed in whole or in part. 

Electronic Copies of the Data from ISSDA and Derived Information

Magnetic Media( e.g. Hard Drives, Magnetic Tape)

Magnetic media are storage mediums on which digital or analog information is recorded as magnetic signals, such as computer hard drives, magnetic tapes, and floppy disks. For magnetic media and read-write media, either physical destruction or over-writing may be used.

Regular deletion of files is not enough as that does notpermanentlyremove the file, just the reference to the file and data can be recovered. 

Over-writingis a method used to clear data from magnetic media that utilizes a program to write (1s, 0s, or a combination of both) onto the location of the media where the file is located. Software is available to help erase files from hard disks. Example software is: (opens in a new window)Eraser, (opens in a new window)BCWipe, (opens in a new window)WipeFile, and (opens in a new window)DeleteOnClick for Windows platforms; and (opens in a new window)Permanent Eraserfor MacOS platforms.

Physical destructionis the most reliable method as this ensures that data can never be recovered. Mechanical shredding and incineration are such measures used for disposition of sensitive data.

Paper Records

Paper records should be destroyed in a manner that leaves no possibility for reconstruction of information. The appropriate method for destroying paper records is cross-cut shredding.

If you need any assistance please email us at: (opens in a new window)issda@ucd.ie

ISSDA accepts social science data from academic, research bodies and public sector sources related to Ireland and Irish society, including the societal aspects of environmental and medical data. Please see the ISSDA Collection Development Policy for more information on the data accepted by ISSDA.

No, there is no cost associated with depositing your data with ISSDA.

When your dataset is published anyone can access the metadata and associated documentation, as it is publicly accessible. Access to the dataset file will depend on the licence you have chosen on deposit. If you deposit your data as Open Access it can be accessed and used by anyone without restriction and without creating an ISSDA Dataverse account. If you deposit your data as Restricted Access then users must register with ISSDA by creating an ISSDA Dataverse account. They must then request the data and complete and sign a request form and end user licence to access the data. 

ISSDA’s main users are its Designated Community which consists of higher education institutions (HEIs) and research-performing organisations (RPOs) across multiple sectors and jurisdictions with broad relevance to the Social Sciences and Public Health.

Where your data contains pseudonymised personal data  ISSDA will only make data available in the EEA and adequacy decision countries.   

ISSDA does not currently allow data depositors to approve requests for access. Requests are approved by the ISSDA Team. As part of the ISSDA Deposit Licence the depositor gives ISSDA blanket permission to make data available to the Designated Community of higher education institutions (HEIs) and research-performing organisations (RPOs) for non-commercial research or teaching purposes upon completion of relevant ISSDA request form.

All data deposited with ISSDA must be available for reuse as per the ISSDA Collection Development Policy. ISSDA does not accept data that is not available for reuse.

ISSDA does not allow datasets to be embargoed. Data must be made available for reuse on deposit. 

ISSDA can supply the depositing organisation with statistical details of data use for restricted access datasets e.g. number of requests, type of researcher, location of researcher and details of the research project for which the data is required. 

Please contact (opens in a new window)issda@ucd.ie to request user statistics.

Please visit the ISSDA Deposit Data pages for information on preparing your data for deposit.