FAQ

To request aggregated files you must first register with FID.

Registration involves providing an email address and a name. The address is used to confirm receipt of requests and to notify you when the file is created.

Registration is completed immediately upon entering the information request option. You must enter your first and last name, email address, and password. Upon confirming this information, you will receive a verification email containing an activation code. Copy this code and paste it into the requested box on the registration screen.

With this you will be registered in FID.

To complete a data request once registered, you only need to follow a short sequence of selections:

  1. Collection: In each request, data can only be requested from one of the available collections.
  2. Samples: Once you've selected your collection, you'll be offered all the seasonal samples available for it, sorted by year. Choose the ones you're interested in by clicking on them. Then, click the "Variables" button.
  3. Variables: The variables available for each sample in the selected collection will appear, sorted by section. This way, you can easily include all the variables that interest you in your request. Once you've made your selection, click the "Options" button.
  4. Options: You will be informed that some structural variables will be included by default (unless otherwise specified) and asked to specify the output format for the data file. After deciding on these options, click "Submit."
  5. Submitting your application: Finally, you just need to give your application a title and send it to the CIS by clicking the "Submit application" button.

FID files are currently offered in three formats:

  1. SPSS format, with a .SAV extension. Many statistical programs, such as Stata, R, and SAS, can import data in .SAV format.
  2. ASCII format: This is a text file with the data for each variable arranged on one line per interviewee, separating each value with a tab. This file can be loaded into Excel, Stata, and numerous other programs. The format is described in an additional text file that lists the variables in order of appearance, along with their titles and response category labels.
  3. Labeled ASCII format: This is also a text file with the data for each variable arranged on one line per interviewee, separating each value with a tab. The unique feature of this file is that the response categories are written directly with their text description. Some programs allow direct analysis of these files, and Excel is the most recommended.

Some variables, such as education, have undergone many variations from the earliest studies to the present day. To create the series, we decided to preserve the original coding of each variable by creating a variable with numerous codes (one for each variant of education level at different times). Users can download this variable with the codes fully disaggregated or group them into more generic levels defined by the CIS to allow for comparative analysis.

These variables are called harmonized variables, and in FID, you can view the existing disaggregation levels for the file in a drop-down menu. This drop-down menu is displayed in the variable details, which can be accessed by clicking the variable list icon. When you select the variable, it will be included in the file with the different disaggregation levels it offers.

Each survey has been individually designed according to Sampling Theory to be representative of the study population at the time of its implementation. The appropriateness of combining cases from different studies must be evaluated by the researcher for each specific use of the data and, in all cases, carried out under their own responsibility.

In most cases, the request is approved quickly upon receipt. The file is then automatically generated, and an email with the link is sent upon completion. This process is usually quick and, in any case, should take no more than 24 hours from the request's approval. In exceptional cases, a more detailed review of the request by the CIS Database Department may be necessary, which may delay the request for a few days.

Requests for files with too many samples or variables result in very large files. While there are no significant capacity issues at this time, the CIS Database reserves the right to approve each request based on established limits to avoid congesting the file generation or download processes.

Yes. To do this, log in as an FID user and access the Request History . This option displays your completed requests, along with some additional options:

  • Download the generated file (when ready). The download option will be disabled after a certain time.
  • Create a copy of the request : This option allows you to create a new data request based on another request from your history. You can add or remove samples or variables, or change the formatting options.
  • Delete file : This option allows you to delete from your history a request that you are no longer interested in and do not wish to keep.