Caltech ICPSR Access

Caltech has re-joined the ICPSR. We now have access to all of the resources of the ICPSR. I'm one of Caltech's Official Representatives to the ICPSR, so if you want information or data at this point, get in touch with me.

Finding whether a dataset is available, or whether Caltech has it, is simple. Just follow the steps:

  • What is the ICPSR? What data is available from the ICPSR? If you don't know if the data you want is available from the ICPSR, start here.
  • Does Caltech have the dataset I need? If you know exactly what dataset you want, especially if you know the ICPSR study number, start here.
  • How can I order the dataset I need if Caltech doesn't have it? If you know the ICPSR study number, and you know we don't have it available, begin here.

    What is the ICPSR? What data is available from the ICPSR?

    Rather than clutter this page up with stuff about the ICPSR, if you want general information, go to their home page. Also, the ICPSR guide is on-line at their home page, so if you want to look for particular studies, go to their home page. Last, I've included a link to the National Election Studies, since they are a primary source for much of the data we have at Caltech from the ICPSR.

    Also, a hard copy of the ICPSR Guide is available in Baxter 313, but can be reviewed only during business hours and cannot be removed from the room.

    Does Caltech have the dataset I need?

    First, you can check at Millikan Library, since they will catalog ICPSR information on CLAS.

    Second, you can search here for the documentation and data. To do data analysis, you will need both documentation and data, so please check both before requesting data. You can also search by subject heading.

    How can I order the dataset I need if Caltech doesn't have it?

    After examining the references above, if you don't find the study you want, you can go to the ordering page.

    New Additions

    1994 American National Election Study

    The 1994 American National Election Study is out, and we have it! Do you want to know how Newt Gingrich became Speaker? Whether the Contract with America really is behind the Republican congressional victories in 1994? Was this a "normal" midterm election? Check this out!

    The American National Election Studies 1948-1994 CD-ROM

    This is an exciting new avenue of access to NES data. All of the NES time-series data, dataing back to 1948, are included on this one CD-ROM, along with the 1952-1992 Cumulative File, the 1956-58-60 Panel File, the 1972-74-76 Panel File, the 1980 Major Panel File, the Pooled Senate Study, the 1988 Super Tuesday Study, and the 1984 Continuous Monitoring Study. All are in ASCII format, and are accompanied by full documentation and complete SAS and SPSS data definition statements.

    Furthermore, three of the larger and more useful files are embedded in a "front-end" interface developed by some folks at Ohio State. This interface permits people using PC or Macintosh systems to browse the documentation and draw extracts from the Cumulative Data File, the 1992 Pre- and Post-Election Survey, and the 1980 Major Panel File.

    To use the CD-ROM, the following hardware and software requirements are suggested:

    Please contact Michael Alvarez in 313 Baxter Hall for additional information.

    Back to Alvarez home page click HERE.

    Last updated by me on May 26, 1995. Since this is an evolving page, please let me know if you have any comments or suggestions. Michael Alvarez (rma@crunch.caltech.edu)