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Re-using archived qualitative data – where, how, why?

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Abstract

“Qualitative data” are the central issue of this article. Qualitative data are a particular category of data within the social sciences, where data have been predominantly of a quantitative nature. Qualitative data could enrich social science research in many ways. The re-use of this particular type of data is however a new challenge for social science data archives. A new methodology has to be developed when dealing with these data, based on a combination of social science methodology and traditional archival descriptions. An additional question discussed in the article is what the best place should be for archiving and disseminating qualitative data: in research (social science) data archives or in the more traditional libraries and archives?

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  1. ESDS (Economic and Social Data Service) Qualidata, Outreach and Training, UK Data Archive at the University of Essex, University of Essex, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK

    Louise Corti

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Correspondence to Louise Corti.

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Corti, L. Re-using archived qualitative data – where, how, why?. Arch Sci 7, 37–54 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10502-006-9038-y

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