An Introduction to Using DAS Online for Institutional Research

1. An Introduction to Using DAS Online for Institutional Research Dr Daina Paupe Henry College of William & Mary VAMAP October 2007

2. VAMAP 2007

3. Purpose Of Workshop • To introduce DAS – NCES software tool “Data Analysis System” • To access features of both DAS 1.0 and 2.0 • To understand the wide range of information available • To use DAS to analyze data • To warn about quirks VAMAP 2007

4. Goal Of This Workshop • At the end of this workshop you will have accessed three different data sets of using DAS • Done a rudimentary analysis on each • Been able to print a report • Been able to download a correlation matrix for use in further analysis with SPSS or SAS VAMAP 2007

5. Data Sets To Be Accessed • NCES IPEDS Institution Data (3 exercises) • NSOPF data (National Study of Post-Secondary Faculty) (1 exercise) • NPSAS data (National Post-Secondary Student Aid Study) (1 exercise) VAMAP 2007

6. Why Use DAS? • Going beyond your peer group • Institutional RESEARCH VAMAP 2007

7. Where Is It? • http://nces.ed.gov/dasol/ • Using your pc and your favorite browser, link to internet, and type in this address. VAMAP 2007

8. NCES DAS Online Home Page • Two Versions of DAS (2.0 and 1.0) each with different types of data available • 2.0 is a beta version (lots of surveys) • 1.0 is the “old” version – limited surveys – but it does have IPEDS. • Start with 1.0 version – choose “Overview” on right side. VAMAP 2007

9. DAS Web Site Tabs • DAS Online Application • User Help Center • Tables Library • Analysis Reports • What’s New • Homepage VAMAP 2007

10. DAS Online • “The Data Analysis System (DAS) is a software application that allows you to produce tables and correlation matrices from NCES data sets. There is a separate DAS for each data set, but all have a consistent interface and command structure.” VAMAP 2007

11. DAS Online • Each DAS can be run in two modes-Tables or Correlations. • Each is available both in a web based format or a (cumbersome) windows format. • We will be doing the on-line web based. VAMAP 2007

12. DAS User Help Center • 5 help topics: • Tutorials. • User Guide 2.0 • User Guide 1.0 • T-test Tools • Technical Assistance VAMAP 2007

13. The Tutorials • Tutorials are good. • Start with simple ones – using DAS 1.0 • Overview of DAS is good • Building a simple table • Creating a lump tag VAMAP 2007

14. The Users Guide 1.0 • In it you will find some very useful information and examples. • USERS GUIDE also found under the HELP menu option once you actually get in the online system. • A copy of User’s Guide 1.0 is in the second section of your notebook. VAMAP 2007

15. The Users Guide 2.0 • Basically the same as 1.0. • Has an added feature of Power Users. VAMAP 2007

16. The DAS Lingo • TAGS, TPFs and CPFs • Rows, Columns • Cats, Lumps • Cuts • Means, Averages • Spans, Bys, Filters VAMAP 2007

17. Quick Facts • Mean includes 0, -1 • Average excludes 0, -1 (gt 0) • Columns are better than rows… • Order of choices makes a difference VAMAP 2007

18. Basic Process • Specify a COLUMN variable • Specify a ROW variable • Select a weight variable if necessary • Run the TPF VAMAP 2007

19. The Window Pop Ups (follow the bouncing ball) • Main Window • Variable Information Window • Tag Options Window • Tag Specific Options Window • TPF/CPF Window • Verification Window • Output Window VAMAP 2007

20. VAMAP 2007

21. The First Step • Need to get back to DAS Online Application. Choose “DAS Online Application” on Menu at top. • Choose “To Create Tables” under “Access Application” (on the right) under version 1.0. VAMAP 2007

22. DAS Online 1.0 Data Sets • Early Childhood – (ECLS – Birth) • Secondary (1972 seniors, 1980 Seniors) • Post Secondary (IPEDS 2004, 2003, 2002) • Early Childhood and Household Data (NHES 1995) VAMAP 2007

23. Short Cuts • On the top right is a short cut to the same groupings of data. VAMAP 2007

24. Choosing A Data Set • Choose “Post-Secondary Institution Data in 2004”. • Use either the shortcut or scroll down. VAMAP 2007

25. NCES Usage Agreement • A pop up window appears. • NCES Data Usage Agreement (you must agree or you go nowhere). • Each DAS has a separate agreement. • “I agree to the terms above…” VAMAP 2007

26. IPEDS Post-Secondary Institution 2004 Main Page Tabs on top are standard options for every NCES data set. • TPF (table parameter file) • Show • Save • New • Import • Run • Help (find users guide here) • About VAMAP 2007

27. IPEDS Post-Secondary Institution 2004 Information • Major categories of variables have a circle in front. • Subcategories of variables have a plus sign in front. • Clicking on the circle or plus sign expands or contracts the list. • “Frequently used variables” are at the beginning for a reason. VAMAP 2007

28. IPEDS Post-Secondary Institution 2004 Information Major categories: (each has subcategories) • Frequently Used/Derived Variables • Institutional Characteristics • Admissions • Student Charges • Enrollment (Fall 2004 and Year 2003-04) • Completions • Graduation Rates • Student Financial Aid • Finance • Faculty Salaries • Employees by Assigned Position VAMAP 2007

29. VAMAP 2007

30. Post Secondary Institution Data 2004 • Exercise 1. • ?? Of the institutions in IPEDS-land, how many are accredited by a regional accrediting agency and what is their type of control (public, private etc.)?? • Caution – think beyond your peer group. VAMAP 2007

31. Choosing Our Variables • Choose under the major category “Institutional Characteristics” the sub category “Accreditation” . • Choose “Regional Accrediting Agency”. VAMAP 2007

32. Variable Pop Up Window • Variable information pop up provides a general description of the variable. It is the best way to look at definition and parameters. Are you getting what you think you are getting? • There is no one concise spot that describes all the variables that IPEDS holds. The Codebooks tab under 2.0 does provide info for certain surveys, but not for these surveys. VAMAP 2007

33. Hint • How do you know which variable to choose under a major or sub category? • Trial and error, common sense, reading the pop-ups and saved TPFs. VAMAP 2007

34. Choosing What To Do With Your Variable • Two tabs on top – “Variable Information” (default) and “Select a TAG”. • What are TAGs? TAGs are shortcuts to what you want done with the variable – will it be a row or column; will it be used to lump or cut, etc. • Understanding TAGs are crucial to DAS. VAMAP 2007

35. Choosing Column Variable • Choose “Select a Tag”. • Choose “Column Cat” for the variable “Regional Accrediting Agency”. VAMAP 2007

36. Variable Label Window • This window allows you to change the labels or keep them as they appear. We will keep the default. • Click on SAVE. VAMAP 2007

37. Confirmation Window • Wait for original page of variables to appear with your choice. • The displayed variable list has added your Col-Cat tag next to “Regional Accrediting Agency”. VAMAP 2007

38. Choosing Row Variable • In this exercise, we are going to use control of institution. • Choose “Control” (fourth option) under “Institutional Characteristics” . • Choose “Institutional Control or Affiliation” the first option under “Control”. VAMAP 2007

39. Selecting Row TAG • Variable information pops up and provides a general description of the variable. Scroll to the bottom. Note the distribution. • Choose “Select a TAG” . • Choose “Row Cat”. • Note that you do not have as many options as you did the first time. VAMAP 2007

40. Variable Label and Confirmation Windows • A label window appears again. We will keep the default. • Choose “SAVE”. • Original variable list will be revised. Scroll up to see revised list. • Scroll to top to see TPF menu. VAMAP 2007

41. Processing the TPF • Show – shows TPF of variables just used • Save – saves this TPF to your pc • New – resets everything • Import – pulls in a TPF from your pc • RUN – produces a listing from this TPF • Help – provides short cut to USER GUIDE VAMAP 2007

42. Run the TPF… • Choose Run. VAMAP 2007

43. TPF Title Window • Pop up window for title. • Hint: Make it descriptive – use data source and variables in title. Be as specific as possible. • “IPEDS 2004 – Institutional Control by Accrediting Agency (your initials)” for example. • Choose “Run”. VAMAP 2007

44. Run Confirmation Window • Confirm the RUN request. • You may receive a “Processing” page. Production of results depends on the type of analysis and what else is happening at NCES. • Pop up window for results. VAMAP 2007

45. Output Window Options • View printer friendly version • Download comma separated format • Download printer friendly web page • Or RETURN. VAMAP 2007

46. Output to local printer • For this exercise – choose “view printer friendly version”. • Print. VAMAP 2007

47. Continuing the exercise • After printing choose “Return to Specifications”. VAMAP 2007

48. Main Menu Options • “Show TPF” – shows you the variables you have chosen – good to print this off, because it gives exact variable names – which can be important when re-running the table. • Right click for print option of that window. • Hint: attach the printed TPF to your printed output. That way you will know how you got this. • At this point you can Save the TPF to your pc, Edit the TPF, or do a New one. VAMAP 2007

49. VAMAP 2007

50. Reversing The Axis • We are going to choose the exact same variables BUT reverse row and column variables. • Exercise 1a – do the exact same process, but reverse the axis. Remember to use the NEW tab to reset variables. • Run the TPF, review the results. Print output and TPF. VAMAP 2007