Student Research, Software, Devices, etc.

Software Online Data Collection

Some basics regarding data collection: If you collect data yourself, you should always think about data privacy protection (how to collect the data, where to store the data, how to ensure anonymisation, ...). Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the notes on data privacy protection below.
SoSciSurvey: Scientific surveys are free at SoSciSurvey. You can create an account and create your own survey.
Unipark: Some chairs have their own Unipark licenses. Therefore, you may first ask your supervisor if (s)he can give you access to Unipark. Otherwise, you can contact the Student Research department, for further information see link.

Software Registration Paper Survey

Some basics regarding data collection: If you collect data yourself, you should always think about data privacy protection (how do you collect the data, where do you store the data, how to ensure anonymization, ...). Therefore, pay attention to the notes on data protection below.
To capture data from questionnaires automatically only makes sense if you have many questionnaires with many questions. Otherwise, manual data capturing makes more sense. To reduce errors, it is advisable to work with an input mask. For example, you can create a survey at SoSciSurvey (see notes above) and use the online survey as a mask. Alternatively, you can also use a database program (Access) or, if you have the appropriate programming knowledge, create a mask yourself.

If you want to capture questionnaires automatically, you must be aware of the appropriate formatting of the questionnaires in advance. A free program for collecting paper questionnaires would be queXML. But that only makes sense if you are familiar with Linux and server installation. The price of programs is at least in a four-digit range.

Software for Quantitative Data Evaluation

R and RStudio: R and the user interface RStudio are mainly used in teaching at the ZU. Both programs are free of charge. R can be downloaded and RStudio  In particular, if you work with large data sets or use computationally intensive procedures, you may want to use R in the computer room (see notes below).

SPSS is installed in the computer room (see notes below). If you are not on campus and still need SPSS, you can apply for a license at ZU | Competence. For more information, see link above.

Alternatively, you can also purchase a student annual license for 66.94 EUR. In the library, there are also few laptops with SPSS which can be exclusively used in the library. Please ask for further information the library staff.
Stata is used at the ZU only at a few chairs and is not used in teaching. Therefore, Stata is also not provided by the ZU for student research. However, if you still need the program, the six-month student license is quite affordable (48.55 EUR). Another important note: There are several variants of Stata (IC, SE, MP), which differ mainly in the size of the data set that can be loaded. Stata IC, which can handle more than 2,000 variables and 2 billion cases, is usually enough for student research projects. In the library, there are also few laptops with SPSS which can be exclusively used in the library. Please ask for further information the library staff.

Content analysis Software

MAXQDA is the predominantly used content analysis program for teaching at the ZU. Therefore, the program is also available in the computer room (see notes below). If you are not on campus or want to use MAXQDA on your own computer, you can buy a six-month student license for 45 EUR. You can also apply for funding at the Student Research department. More information see link above.

Atlas.ti is an alternative content analysis program that is not provided for student research by the ZU. The six-month student license costs 39 EUR.

Transcription Software

You can also transliterate with MAXQDA, see link to explain exactly how it works. An alternative free program is EASYTRANSCRIPT, which generally meets the requirements of student research. The most common program with largest range of functions is f4. A six-months student license costs 25.90 EUR. More information is available at the Student Research department see link above. For transcriptions it is often helpful to work with a pedal (see below Equipment).

Equipment

Recording device / voice recorder: Generally: If you collect data yourself, you should always think about data privacy protection (how do you collect the data, where do you store the data, how to ensure anonymization, ...). Therefore, pay attention to the notes on data privacy protection below.
Recording with smartphones usually works very well, but there are sometimes problems with smartphones having low battery levels, especially on days of multiple interviews, or that the recording will be interrupted by incoming phone calls. For these and some other reasons, the classic voice recorder is not yet out of fashion. You can borrow a voice recorder from Student Research department.
Pedal: Transliterating is much easier if you can stop the record with a pedal. You can borrow a pedal from the Student Research department.

Contact regarding voice recorder and pedal  is brtbrlzd, Student Research

Data Protection

When you collect data yourself, you need to think about data privacy protection and you need to explain the respondents what you are doing with the data and how you are processing it. Information on data privacy protection in the collection of qualitative data can be found under the links; as well as notes for the collection of standardized data (see "Here you can download the draft privacy policy").

Computer Room

Access: You can also work in the computer room as long as there are no other courses. However, it is possible that the computer room is closed outside course hours. You can get access to the computer room, see note.
Login: In the computer room, log in with your student ID and password to VMWare Horizon to start the Windows virtual machine. You will find SPSS and MAXQDA among others on the desktop. For RStudio, open Firefox and enter vertica01:8787 in the address bar. For setting up an RStudio user account please contact Martin Elff, as the teaching accounts are not suitable for student research projects due to limited storage space. Please backup your data via USB or online, as possible data loss cannot be guranteed.

Access to the computer room

E-mail to StphnStrmzd with the subject "Computer room for student research"

cc AynrErdgnzd or KlnSngzd and ask him to active the computer room on your key card.


Setting up RStudio user accounts:

MrtnElffzd

Time to decide

This website uses external media, such as maps and videos, as well as external analytics tools – all of which may be used to collect data about your online behavior. Cookies are also stored when you visit our website. You can adjust or revoke your consent to the use of cookies and extensions at any time.

For an explanation of how our privacy settings work and an overview of the analytics/marketing tools and external media we use, please see our privacy policy.