Frequently Asked Questions | Qatar University

Research_Center

Frequently Asked Questions

Which datasets are currently available?

Microdata currently on the SESRI Data Center include;

* The Marriage Delays Survey

* The Omnibus Survey Series

o Omnibus Survey 2012

o Omnibus Survey 2014

* Omnibus Survey 2012-2014 (Longitudinal)

* Social Capital Survey Series

o Social Capital 2012

o Social Capital 2015 (Coming soon)

* Entrepreneurship Survey (GEM Qatar) 2014

* Qatar Education Study (QES)

o Qatar Education Study (QES) 2012

o Qatar Education Study (QES) 2015 (Coming soon)

* FIFA World Cup 2022 (Coming soon)

* World Values Survey

* Qatar Tourism Study (Coming Soon)

Are there reports available if I don’t wish to run the data files or if I’d like to compare my results with those published by SESRI?

To access publications, click on the following link http://www.qu.edu.qa/research/sesri/publication. There are also a number of searchable databases of publications which cite particular data collections - see Publications citing SESRI Surveys.

Who may access these data? Is there a fee or a membership required?

The Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) Data Center hosted by Qatar University, studies are available for analysis and use by researchers, students, policymakers, journalists, and the general public. A fee is not required and data users can register for free to access the data.

In what formats are the data available?

Most survey datasets are available to download in Stata (.dta), R (.rdata), SPSS (.sav), MS Excel (.csv) and tab-delimited formats and can also be requested in other formats such as SAS.

Why should I read the Codebook?

Data users are encouraged to download and read the Codebook to ensure it matches the purpose of their research. It is also encouraged to read through well the Codebook prior to conducting further analysis.

Are there any restrictions on my use of the data?

Data users must refer to the Terms of Use Statement. Click on the link provided: Terms of Use

How do I cite my use of the data I download from the SESRI Data Center?

Details of the citation that should be used are given in the Codebook for every data collection. In general, the citation must include enough information so that the exact version of the data being cited can be located

Am I permitted to share the data with colleagues or associates? What are the rules surrounding such sharing?

Sharing SESRI micro data files with third parties in not allowed. Potential data users may access the data via the SESRI Data Center.

How do I submit feedback, comments or report potential data issues?

Get in touch with the data archiving team by sending an email to sesri@qu.edu.qa. The team will address for any comments or concerns that may arise after reviewing documentation or datasets.

How do I find out about updates to the data?

Updates to the data and errata about known problems, are posted to the SESRI Data Center.

How do I find out if the SESRI data centre has data on particular topic

SESRI data collections that are available to the public can be found through the SESRI Data Center.

Additional datasets are available through a restricted data application process. For more information kindly send an email to sesri@qu.edu.qa.

How can I search for variables or survey questions?

Users can download codebooks from the SESRI Data Center to understand which variables or survey questions are included in each dataset.

May I use the data for teaching purposes?

Yes! We strongly encourage academic to use SESRI micro data files for teaching purposes.

Why are my analyses showing different results from those in the published reports?

There are several explanations to this. The version of the data file you are using might be different from the one used in published reports. Also, it could be that statistics in the report take into account the survey design by applying survey weights.

Must I use weighted data in any analysis I run on SESRI datasets?

SESRI data files are weighted. In the codebook, variables named WGT* are survey weights. More information on weighting related to each data file is provided in the codebook accompanying the data file.

Am I permitted to share the data with journal publications that request authors submit the data for accepted articles?

Data users can provide a link to the SESRI Data Center. If the dataset is restricted and not available from the data center, kindly send an email to sesri@qu.edu.qa for advice.