A Social Science Data Fusion Tool and the Data Management through e-Social Science (DAMES) Infrastructure

Abstract

The last two decades have seen substantially increased potential for quantitative social science research. This has been made possible by the significant expansion of publicly available social science datasets, the development of new analysis methodologies such as microsimulation, and increase in computing power. These rich resources do, however, bring with them substantial challenges associated with organising and using data. These processes are often referred to as 'data management'. The DAMES project (Data Management through e-Social Science) is working to support activities of data management for social science research. This paper describes the DAMES infrastructure, focusing on the data fusion process that is central to the project approach.