R

R is a free, user developed, advanced statistical and computing programme for statistical computing.  It is increasingly used in the academic world for teaching purposes.

Resources

• Guide to using R to analyse key UK surveys
• Mapping 2011 Census Microdata using R (PDF)
• Data Skills Module: Exploring crime surveys with R (Beta version).

SPSS

A software package for Windows, SPSS can be used to to produce graphics of data as well as other data analysis.

Resources

• What is SPSS 20 for Windows? (PDF)

Stata

Stata is a statistical software package for data analysis. You can use Stata by pointing and clicking, or by using the command syntax.

The software can support complex analysis, and, as it is so programmable, developers and users continue to add new features.

Resources

• What is Stata 12.1? (PDF)

QGIS

QGIS is an open source mapping package which can be downloaded for free  –  it has a good range of functionality and is straightforward to use.

Resources

• Guide to Mapping Census data in QGIS. (PDF)

Python

Python is a general-purpose programming language for data scientists to collect, clean, and analyse data.  It is often used because it is flexible and suitable for handling large datasets.

Resources

• These training materials include webinar recordings, slides, and sample Python code for core social science research tasks.

Nesstar

Nesstar enables you to search, browse, visualise, analyse and download a selected range of different kinds of social and economic data, from survey data to multidimensional tables.

Resources

• Access Nesstar
• Video tutorial: Using Nesstar to download a subset of data
• Video tutorial: How to weight survey data in Nesstar
• GESIS Online Study Catalogue
• The European Social Survey (ESS)
• More information on researching survey data.

InFuse

Infuse is an open standards structure developed by the UK Data Service to provide easy access to aggregate data from the UK 2011 and 2001 censuses.

Resources

• Access InFuse
• Infuse user guide.

Casweb

Casweb is an interface that provides access to census data from 1971 to 2001.

Resources

• Access Casweb
• Casweb user guide.

GeoConvert

GeoConvert is a tool that makes it easy to match UK postcodes, census geographies and convert data between them.

Resources

• Access GeoConvert
• GeoConvert user guides and tutorials.

Boundary data tools

Through its Census Support service, the UK Data Service provides a selection of tools to enable you to easily analyse census boundary data.

Resources

• EasyDownload
• Boundary Data Selector
• Postcode Directories Download
• Postcode Data Selector.

QualiBank

QualiBank is the UK Data Service’s search and browse interface for qualitative data objects allowing searching of the content of text files, such as interviews, essays, open ended questions and reports.

Resources

• Access QualiBank
• Video guide: Citing QualiBank data.