Bjørn Henrichsen Social Sciences and the Humanities in Europe Brussels, December 12-13, 2005 Director Norwegian Social Science Data Services Social Science Infrastructures for the European Research Area

What is Research Infrastructure? Basically: Help tools for the Research Communities Research Infrastructures can be: libraries databases communication networks synchrotrons, accelerators, telescopes, etc

Why is Infrastructures Important? Stimulate collaboration Function as a node for cumulative activities It has to be sustainable It has to support the ERA/easy access

 Only a fraction of data resources available on line  Lack of standardization  Poor integration between data and metadata  Institutional, legal, and commercial obstacles  All empirical data available on- line  An integrated gateway to be used to integrate and locate relevant resources  The ability to browse, visualize, and analyze data on-line  Hyperlinks from data to relevant scientific publications and resources  Empirical feedback system to build the collective memory of a data collection SITUATION TO-DAY SITUATION TOMORROW?

Today and tomorrow TODAYTOMORROW

What are we looking for? Data MetadataTools Data Sharing

Why are metadata important? Unlabeled stuffLabeled stuff The bean example is taken from: A Manager’s Introduction to Adobe eXtensible Metadata Platform,

What are we leaning on? Various data collection activities; ISSP, Value Studies, Eurobarometer, etc. European Social Survey Council of European Social Sciences Data Archives (CESSDA) EROHS

European Social Survey (ESS) 26 countries taking part same standards used by all countries strict rules for translation and for sampling strict rules for documentation of data funded by EC, ESF, and 26 countries open and free access to data

International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) Continuing annual programme Cross-national collaboration on surveys Covering topics important for social science research Brings together pre-existing social science projects Coordinates research goals Adding a cross national and cross-cultural perspective to the individual national studies Thirty-nine countries are members of the ISSP (25 from Europe)

Eurobarometer A programme of cross-national and cross-temporal comparative social research

World Value Studies Almost all European countries are represented in a large-scale cross-national longitudinal survey research program on basic human values.

Council of European Social Sciences Data Archives (CESSDA) An informal combination of the European data archives with the aim of a free and intensive exchange of data. It encourages the exchange of data and technology and fosters The development of new organi- sations in sympathy with its aims.

European Research Observatory for the Humanities and Social Sciences(EROHS) Facilitation of access to and sharing of existing European and national data Development of improved standards and documentation relating to existing European and national data Generation of new and genuinely European data Provision of training programmes The present situation After the first milestoneAfter the second milestone

On-going activities National projects – National Roadmaps EC Projects ESFRI Roadmap