Research Guides: Social Science Data Resources: Software and Learning Resources

Software Availability and Support

Software for Off-Campus Learning

A variety of software is available for researchers to clean, process, and use data from off-campus locations. Students, staff, faculty, and affiliates may view a current list of available software packages from Academic Commons. They can also access additional applications for remote working and collaborating using GW IT's Software downloads website.

Software for On-Campus Learning

Students, staff, faculty, and affiliates can find specific software and hardware configurations across campus to meet their data analysis and use needs. These configurations are available to support qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research methods. Please review Academic Technologies Classrooms and Labs online search page to learn more about where you can find these resources across campus.

Open Source Software for Data Analysis and Visualization

In addition to the university's commercial software offerings, a variety of open source software applications are also available to support data cleaning, processing, analysis, and visualization. This software is available at no-cost, online and actively supported through our workshop series.

Anaconda Python: A free and open source distribution of the Python programming language for scientific computing and visualization that helps researchers simplify package management and deployment
OpenRefine: A free, open source tool for working with messy data including helping researchers and analysts clean, transform, and extend it with web services and external data. Available for use in more than 15 different languages
QGIS: A free and open geographic information system for mapping your data. Support for at least 48 different languages. Available for Linux, Windows, Mac, and BSD OS. Apps are also available for mobile devices and tablets
R: A free, open source program for statistical computing, qualitative research, and visualization. Available for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS
RStudio: An open source and commercial version of an integrated development environment for R. Available for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS

For software support, schedule a research consultation or attend a workshop.

Selected Learning Resources

Indigenous Statistics by Maggie Walter; Chris Andersen
ISBN: 1611322928
Publication Date: 2013-09-15
The first book ever published on Indigenous quantitative methodologies. This book dismantles persistent positivism with a forceful critique, then fills the void with a new paradigm for Indigenous quantitative methods, using examples of research projects from First World Indigenous peoples in the United States, Australia, and Canada.
The Practice of Social Research by Earl R. Babbie
ISBN: 9781305104945
Publication Date: 2016-01-01
A straightforward, comprehensive, and approachable guide to research as practiced by social scientists. The author emphasizes the research process by showing readers how to design and construct projects, introducing the various observation modes in use today, and answering critical questions about research methods.
Research Methods: the Key Concepts by Michael Hammond; Jerry Wellington
ISBN: 0415599830
Publication Date: 2021
An invaluable resource that provides a comprehensive overview of key concepts used in social research.
Transforming Research Methods in the Social Sciences by Angelo Flynn; Sherianne Kramer; Sumaya Laher (Editor)
ISBN: 1776142756
Publication Date: 2019-03-01
A comprehensive collection of original essays and research demonstrating the variety of techniques and methods available to researchers working in contexts characterised by diversity, racial and political tensions, socioeconomic disparities and gender inequalities.
Using SPSS Syntax by Jacqueline Collier
ISBN: 144620426X
Publication Date: 2011-09-09
This book introduces novice and intermediate users to the language used by SPSS to create reproducible research findings. Available in print and electronic versions.