NESSTAR Networked Social Science Tools and Resources

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Put your tables on the Web
IASSIST/IFDO 2005 Edinburgh, Scotland
Jostein Ryssevik
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Topics

• Aggregated (tabular) data versus micro-data
• Basic properties of aggregated data
• Metadata standards for describing tabular data
• The tabular data implementation in Nesstar
• Demo

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Micro-data versus aggregated data
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Relationships from simple to complex
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Aggregated data - features
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Aggregated data - features
It is also nice to be able to slice the data cube
cut trough the data cube on one or more of the
dimensions. In the example below we have sliced
the cube on the time dimension, now only showing
data for 2002
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Aggregated data - features
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Aggregated data an overview

• .typically derived from one or more micro-data
  source though an aggregation process
• .has a logical structure which is quite
  different from micro-data
• .should not be understood as a table, rather
  as a dataset from which hundreds of different
  table displays can be derived
• Aggregated data (as most data) are best
  understood by separating the logical structure of
  the data from storage as well as presentation.

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A three-layered model
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The twin roots of the DDI cube specification

• The Vorburg compromise
• a great achievement, but
• have been lacking some of the logic needed to
  drive functionality-rich tabulation system/OLAP
  systems.
• a rigid relationship to the surveydata-oriented
  study concept.

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The Nesstar implementation

• Nesstar is a general purpose system for
  publishing and sharing statistical information on
  the Web.
• A specific feature of Nesstar is the support for
  different logical data models.

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Live tables are great fun.