A New Direction of Social Data Analysis:

Access to Micro-datasets of Official Statistics for Sociological Research

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to illustrate the process of accessing micro-datasets of official statistics. In Japan, according to the revision of the Statistics Acts in 2007, micro-datasets of official statistics can be accessed to conduct academic research with public interest. After the usage application is approved, researchers can obtain CDRs, including text files of micro-datasets, data layout tables, and code tables. In addition, they can not only generate and recode various variables but also analyze the interaction among variables using their preferred data management techniques. These analyses are expected to reveal more precise association of patterns among standard variables. Furthermore, any remaining questions can be addressed using theme-specific survey datasets. Thus, this paper suggests that a combination of mixed analytical strategy, micro-datasets of official statistics, and survey datasets can facilitate excellent quantitative research in sociology.