World Bank: Microdata Library

Development Data Group

http://microdata.worldbank.org

Background Launched 14 April 2011

• The World Bank possesses one of the largest repositories of development microdata in the World.

• The new Microdata Library provides access to these data and metadata through a centralized user friendly portal.

• Types of data include both Census and Survey data (Household and Enterprise\Establishment surveys) on a broad range of development topics.

• All metadata is prepared according to International best practice for documenting and preserving microdata. (DDI, Dublin Core)

• What you see now is just a start - preparing and adding all these data to the new site will take time - new studies are being added regularly.

The Microdata Library

The World Bank Microdata Library currently Comprises:

A Central Catalog which acts a searchable central portal and contains the full list of all studies listed in all World Bank and Partner Repositories

The Central Catalog is currently fed by five World Bank repositories and two repositories from partner organizations outside the Bank

The list of contributing repositories is growing all the time.

The Microdata Library Catalogs

The Microdata Library Catalogs

• Currently cover 183 countries• 46 from Africa• 572 of the 1492 datasets are from Africa• Data for all studies listed is available to

researchers.• Many can be downloaded directly after registering

on the site.• Some require a more detailed application process.

Filter and Search

• Filter by country• Filter by date range• Search in study description ( i.e. in Title, Study type, abstract)• Search for a specific variable (i.e. in Variable name, Variable label, Value)• Sort information by Study Country, Year and Title

Variable Search

Enter keywords for variables of interest

Use Boolean search for advanced search

Select variable for more detailed information

Variable Detail

View detailed information for a particular variable

Compare Variables

Useful for comparing variables which seem to cover the same concept between and within studies

Select variables from search results

Click on compare variables

Comparisons can be made between variables from the same study or different studies

View Detailed Metadata Clicking on a study title in the catalog shows detailed metadata

Includes links to downloadable questionnaires, reports, technical documents

Ability to browse and search data files down to variable level

Obtaining the Data

The process to access data for each study is determined by the owner of the data. In all cases users have to agree to a Terms of Use before downloading. Direct access : means data can be downloaded directly simply by clicking on the data download linkPublic use files: can also be directly downloaded, but require the user to fill in an online registration form to register with the site and login before downloading the data.Licensed Files: Require the user to be registered with the site and for each dataset requested to fill in a detailed form describing intended use. If after review approval is given the data may then be downloaded from the site.Data Enclave: Means the researcher would have to travel to the institution where it is stored and do their analysis onsite and under the supervision of the owners.Available from and External Repository: means the data are not held by the World Bank. You will be redirected to the repository where they are held.

Applying for Access

Register and Login to the site Select the data access link for the study you want Fill in the form Agree to the Terms and conditionsSubmitFor public use data, download your data immediatelyFor Licensed data wait for approval from a catalog administrator

Citations

A feature which many researchers may find useful is the list of citations of publications that use particular studies. This allows researchers to see what work has already been done with the data, validate results or come up with new theories and interpretations using the same data. To date, citation bibliographies have only been compiled for the Living Standard Measurement Surveys It is intended that citation bibliographies will be added for all studies in the catalog Citations for a particular study can be viewed from each study’s survey information page as well as from a central bibliography.

Contact

microdata@worldbank.org

http://data.worldbank.org http://microdata.worldbank.org