Oxford LibGuides: Data and Statistics for Social Sciences: Data analysis tools & training

There is a whole range of software packages and tools for data analyses and visualisation - from Access or Excel to dedicated packages, such as SPSS, Stata and R for statistical analysis of quantitative data, Nvivo for qualitative (textual and audio-visual) data analysis (QDA), or ArcGIS for analysing geospatial data.
For more information see Bodleian Data Library.

To support social scientists and others who are required to gather and handle data, the SSL has created a Data Area providing access to PCs which have specialised and restricted-licence data software installed: Bloomberg PC, Eikon PC, NVivo, SPSS, ArcGIS, and IMF Government Finance Statistics. With the exception of the Bloomberg PC, which has to be booked in advance, any reader may use these PCs.

SAGE Research Methods

A library of books, reference works, journal articles, and instructional videos on methods across the social sciences, including the largest collection of qualitative methods books available online from any scholarly publisher. The site is designed to guide users to the content they need to learn a little or a lot about their method.

Cases

Stories of how real research projects were conducted. The collection provides more than 1100 case studies, showing the challenges and successes of doing research, written by the researchers themselves.

Datasets

A collection of teaching datasets and instructional guides that give students a chance to learn data analysis by practicing themselves.

Video

Contains hours of video, including tutorials, case study videos, expert interviews, and more, covering the entire research methods and statistics curriculum.

IT Training

IT services IT Learning Centre (ITLC) offers both classroom-based and online video courses to University members. Lunchtime sessions, online resources and some courses are free; there is a charge for other courses.

You can search classroom-based courses via online course booking system which allows you to book or cancel a taught course and to manage your notifications using your Single Sign-On.
Online training includes the University's subscription to LinkedIn Learning, a resource of online, video-based courses that University members can access at any time for free using their single sign-on credentials.
ITLC also offers self-service learning resources through its IT Learning Portfolio, a range of resources that you can download and use to develop your IT digital skills for study, research and work.

Having problems? See Help Centre Frequently Asked Questions.

iSkills Workshops in Information Discovery & Scholarly Communications, the programme designed to help you to make effective use of scholarly materials. It covers, among other things, managing your research data, information discovery, keeping up to date with new research, responsible research metrics, understanding copyright and looking after your intellectual property, open Access publishing and complying with funder mandates for open access.

A programme designed to promote a step-change in quantitative social science training.
The Oxford Q-Step Centre enables undergraduates across the Social Sciences to have access to enhanced training in Quantitative Methods, through lectures and data-labs. It is hosted by the Department of Politics and International Relations, in close co-operation with the Department of Sociology, and based in the Manor Road Building. See Courses and Resources.

Training calendars

Data training in the University

Many training opportunities are available within the University to gain valuable research skills and develop a better understanding of finding and working with data.
Workshops are run by different departments, from the Bodleian Library's iSkills sessions to IT Learning Centre courses. Booking links are available in the course description.

External data training & events

Online training opportunities, as well as various workshops, seminars and conferences are also available from UKDS and other organisations.