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Here it is: The EURODATA Newsletter

by Franz Kraus, Michael Quick & Franz Rothenbacher

This newsletter, the first issue of which is presented here, is intended to contribute to facilitate data-based comparative research on European societies and polities. It is published and circulated twice a year, free of charge.

The EURODATA Newsletter is a product of the EURODATA Research Archive (more on page 2) of the Mannheim Centre for European Social Research (more on pages 13-15). It has three major objectives:

  • to disseminate information on the research activities of the Mannheim Centre for European Social Research, with particular emphasis on data-generating cross-national research the archive is involved in;
  • to provide information on European data infrastructures and important developments;
  • to provide a forum for the exchange of information on ongoing comparative social research on European societies and on European integration.

Our newsletter has been very much inspired by the European Political Data Newsletter, published from 1971 to 1988 jointly by the European Consortium for Political Research and the Norwegian Social Science Data Services. The EURODATA Newsletter cannot fill this gap: resources and networks are too limited. We think, however, that we nevertheless can make a useful contribution to the systematic and cumulative improvement of information on various aspects of the European data and research infrastructure. The newsletter is intended to be an open forum: contributions from other research institutes and individual researchers are always welcome.

The EURODATA Newsletter will, as a rule, be divided into seven sections: Feature reports substantive findings from on-going cross-national research. Data Infrastructure reports on data institutions such as data archives, governmental and non-governmental organisations, and covers historical developments and current modes of access to data. Research Institutes presents profiles of research institutions with a cross-national orientation. Research Groups and Projects informs on cooperations and networks in comparative social research on Europe. Computer deals with specific aspects of electronic information processing and the use of electronic networks in comparative research. Country Profile provides background information on individual countries. Noticeboard provides general news including information about new statistics, recent books and studies, conference reports and announcements.

We hope that many people will take this newsletter as what it is meant to be: a helpful tool and a contribution to infrastructure in comparative European social research.

The editors


EURODATA Newsletter No.1, p.1