Finding Data Files at the

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• Finding Data Files at the
• U of S Library
• Sociology 398, Social Inequality and Health
• Kiran Doranalli
• Lucy Li

Data GIS Library Services, U of S
Library https//library.usask.ca/data/ September
18, 2008
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https//library.usask.ca/
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Always remember to login with NSID and password!!
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• https//library.usask.ca/

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Ways to Find Files

• Library Catalogue
• Statistics Canada Catalogue
• Web front ends to data IDLS, CANSIM,
• Variable level
• U of S archive
• Variable level
• Talk to the Data Library staff

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1. The Catalogue

• Know the name of the survey
• Looking for a print copy of a codebook
• Locate a survey by
• ?entering the survey name
• Keyword Search
• ?Population Health electronic resource
• ?topic health

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1. The Catalogue

• Limit your search by scoping
• ?select Data GIS files
• from the pull-down menu
• ?more manageable result list

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2. Statistics Canada Catalogue

• Statistics Canada overview
• A Census every five years
• 350 active surveys on virtually all aspects of
  Canadian life
• Search files by keywords or subjects
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Physical activities

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Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)

• Status Active
• Frequency Annual
• The central objective to gather health-related
  data at the sub-provincial levels of geography
  (health region or combined health regions).
• Data collection prior to 2007, occurred every
  two years after 2007, occurs every year.
• Collection period January December
• CCHS questions are designed for computer-assisted
  interviewing.

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Canadian Community Health Survey (cont.)

• CCHS covers
• General health
• Physical activities
• Children's physical activities
• Self-reported height and weight
• Measured height and weight
• Women's health
• Fruit and vegetable consumption
• Chronic health conditions

• 9. Smoking
• 10. Alcohol
• 11. Food security
• 12. Socio-demographic characteristics
• 13. Labour force
• 14. Income
• Administration
• and more

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Vital Statistics Birth Database

• Status Active
• Frequency Annual
• collects demographic information from all
  provincial and territorial vital statistics
  registries on all live births in Canada.
• Some data are also collected on live births to
  Canadian residents in some American states.
• The data are used to calculate basic indicators
  (such as counts and rates) on births of residents
  of Canada. Information from this database is also
  used in the calculation of statistics, such as
  age-specific fertility rates.

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Vital Statistics Birth Database (cont.)

• Data sources
• Responding to this survey is mandatory.
  Provincial and territorial Vital Statistics Acts
  (or equivalent legislation) render compulsory the
  registration of all live births, stillbirths,
  deaths and marriages within their jurisdictions.
• Subjects
• Births and deaths
• Health
• Measures of health
• Population and demography

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General Social Survey Health (GSS)

• Status Inactive
• Frequency Quinquennial (5 year)
• Primary objectives
• Collect data on social trends in order to monitor
  changes in living environment and welfare of
  Canadians over time.
• Provide instant information on specific social
  policy issues of existing and emerging interests.
  
• Data collection Computer assisted telephone
  interviewing (CATI)

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General Social Survey Health (GSS) (cont.)

• Cycles focused on Health issues Cycle 1 (1985)
  and Cycle 6 (1991)
• Been inactive since the introduction of National
  Population Health Survey in 1994
• Covered short and long term disability,
  well-being, height and weight, health problems,
  smoking alcohol use, physical activity, sleep and
  use of health care services.

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What can you do with all the data

• Analysis on diseases breakouts in different areas
• Analysis on health conditions of Canadians, e.g.,
  what factors are affecting Canadian health?
• Analysis on age-specific fertility rates
• And so much more.

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3. Variable level

• Library has access to several web extractors
• Best choice
• ?IDLS (Internet Data Library System) from
  Western Ontario

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IDLS (Internet Data Library System)
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Downloading Data

• 1. Using IDLS, select a survey.
• 2. Choose variables.
• 3. Choose values.
• 4. Submit our extraction request.
• 5. An email containing the URL to download the
  requested files, and your IDLS PIN will be
  delivered.
• 6. Download and unzip the SPSS and data files
  using your IDLS PIN.
• 7. Edit the syntax files.

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IDLS Locate Your File

• Browse/Search by Subject or Name or Variable
• ?Canada Health
• ?Canadian Community Health Survey

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• Users guide, File description, questionnaire,
  data dictionary
• Select variables
• number of times walking for exercise weight
  (kilograms)
• Select values for selected variables
• or you can retrieve the entire file

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• Submit your request

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• Remember to enter a valid email address
• Select files and format to deliver

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Email Web Page Notification of Files to Download

• Remember your file will only be available for a
  short period of time

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Download and Unzip Files

• Use your IDLS PIN provided in the email to
  unzip file

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U of S Data Archive

• Data Lib webpage
• By subject
• Select the file
• U of S data archive
• Download the file and unzip it
• Codebooks and other documentations are available
  in PDF format (some are available in print
  copysearch in library catalogue)
• Restrictions DLI license

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• Download the file and unzip it

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Eligibility and restrictions

• Restriction DLI license
• ?The Data Liberation Initiative
• ?Eligibility Postsecondary academic staff and
  students
• ?Conditions restricted to teaching and research
  purposes

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4. Ask Data Library Staff

• Office 2nd Floor, Main Library
• Appointments recommended
• Email us at refdata_at_library.usask.ca

Kiran Doranalli (8841)
Lucy Li (8841)
Winnie Smit (7261)
Rob Alary (5987)
Elise Pietroniro (2677)
Darlene Fichter (7209) ( on sabbatical)
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Questions?