Internet Resources on Aging: Data Sets and Statistics

Abstract

Note: The information about the sites described in this column is correct at the time it is written; it may have changed by the time this is published. Many researchers in aging use already existing data sets collected for other research to conduct their own secondary research (Liang & Lawrence, 1989). Direct access to electronic versions of these data sets has evolved through the use of magnetic tapes, online searching through specialized computing facilities, diskettes, CD-ROMS, and now the Internet. There is always a steep learning curve associated with the use of these electronic resources, and although there are now several centers that collect data sets on aging and help the researcher use them, a recent report of the Task Force on Aging Research recommends that more effort be made to promote the use of government data files (Recommendation 10.17,1995). Data sets are typically collected and made available by data archives. A good current list of data archives in aging is found on pages 16-19 of the 1995 edition of Data Resources in Gerontology (Harootyan & Reyazuddin, 1995), published by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). This is not available on the Internet, but perhaps CSA will consider putting it up on their new home page at: http://www.geron.org. The most comprehensive data archive for aging data sets is the National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging.