Journal article
Understanding selection bias, time-lags and measurement bias in secondary data sources: Putting the Encyclopedia of Associations database in broader context
Social science research, Vol.42(6), pp.1750-1764
11/2013
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/105371
PMID: 24090865
Abstract
•We introduce the Encyclopedia of Associations dataset.•We examine biases of this resource finding a bias towards large, established groups.•We find a lag of four years between reported dates and the reality they represent.•We offer prescriptive advice for using secondary data in the social sciences.
Secondary data gathered for purposes other than research play an important role in the social sciences. A recent data release has made an important source of publicly available data on associational interests, the Encyclopedia of Associations (EA), readily accessible to scholars (www.policyagendas.org). In this paper we introduce these new data and systematically investigate issues of lag between events and subsequent reporting in the EA, as these have important but under-appreciated effects on time-series statistical models. We further analyze the accuracy and coverage of the database in numerous ways. Our study serves as a guide to potential users of this database, but we also reflect upon a number of issues that should concern all researchers who use secondary data such as newspaper records, IRS reports and FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
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Details
- Title
- Understanding selection bias, time-lags and measurement bias in secondary data sources: Putting the Encyclopedia of Associations database in broader context
- Creators
- Shaun Bevan - Mannheim Centre for European Social Research (MZES), University of Mannheim, GermanyFrank R Baumgartner - Department of Political Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United StatesErik W Johnson - Department of Sociology, Washington State University, United StatesJohn D McCarthy - Department of Sociology and Criminology, Pennsylvania State University, United States
- Publication Details
- Social science research, Vol.42(6), pp.1750-1764
- Academic Unit
- Sociology, Department of
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- Identifiers
- 99900546787401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article