Research Data Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (FDZ-DZHW)

• The data portfolio comprises primarily quantitative survey data. Some of this data is available as panel data, enabling analyses from a life-course perspective. In addition, the FDZ-DZHW archives and provides access to qualitative data, which is generally in the form of interview transcripts. By incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data, the FDZ-DZHW also facilitates the archiving and provision of data from mixed methods projects. The FDZ’s data portfolio is based on research projects carried out by the DZHW, as well as other institutions and projects in the field of higher education and scientific research.
• Examples include the following survey series, some of which are panel studies and others repeated cross-sectional surveys: the DZHW Social Survey (completed), the Konstanz Student Survey, the DZHW Student Survey in Germany (ongoing), the DZHW Panel Study of School Leavers with a Higher Education Entrance Qualification, the DZHW Graduate Panel and, following in their tradition and as their successor, the DZHW Student Life Cycle Panel (SLC) (ongoing), the DZHW National Academics Panel Study (Nacaps) (ongoing), the DZHW PhD Panel (completed) and the DZHW Scientists Survey (ongoing).
• In addition, international data from higher education and science research are provided, enabling international comparative research. Of particular note are EUROSTUDENT, a quantitative repeated cross-sectional survey on the social and economic situation of students (ongoing), and EUROGRADUATE, which examines, for example, the study and labour market experiences of university graduates in Europe (ongoing).
• Examples of other (completed) research projects for which quantitative and qualitative data are made available include: Refugees on their way into German Higher Education (survey data, interview transcripts), Performance Evaluation in Appointment Procedures – the changing tradition of hiring professors in academia (interview transcripts), Digital Higher Education – Organising, Teaching and Learning (digihub.org) (interview transcripts), International Academics at German Universities: From Postdoc to Professorship (interview transcripts) and Science communication in Germany (survey data).

Through its metadata portal (https://metadata.fdz.dzhw.eu), the FDZ-DZHW provides a search platform for its data portfolio, via which users can search for information on studies, surveys, instruments, questions, datasets, variables and publications. The FDZ DZHW website (https://fdz.dzhw.eu/de) provides comprehensive information on the FDZ as well as on archiving and data access options. The FDZ-DZHW advises its data users on the datasets and their potential uses. Projects wishing to have their data archived and made available via the FDZ-DZHW are advised on key aspects of archiving and provision (e.g. reviewing the informed consent form, including suggestions for improvement prior to the start of data collection, documentation and anonymisation). If a research project contacts the FDZ-DZHW at an early stage, it will receive support right from the preparation of data collection, with a view to subsequent archiving and secondary use. Data users who have produced publications can have scripts for data preparation and analysis, as well as the associated analysis datasets, archived via the FDZ-DZHW. This promotes transparency in the research process and, where applicable, meets any requirements set by publishers.