What is ESDS Qualidata?
The Economic and Social Data Service (ESDS) is a national data service that came into operation in January 2003. ESDS Qualidata is a specialist service of the ESDS led by the UK Data Archive (UKDA) at the University of Essex. The service provides access and support for a range of social science qualitative datasets, promoting and facilitating increased and more effective use of data in research, learning and teaching. The work builds on Qualidata’s expertise and international reputation in this area. Data are typically acquired via the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Datasets Policy requiring all research grant award holders to offer data collected during the course of their research for preservation and sharing through the ESDS. As a result ESDS Qualidata works closely with data creators to ensure that high quality and well-documented qualitative data are produced. The service provides both general guidance and a dedicated advisory service for data creators and depositors.
