Preparing ICPSR Data in OSIRIS Format for Use with SAS/SPSS/Stata
(by Amy Yuen)
Most ICPSR data sets have command files for reading the raw data files into SAS or SPSS (or, with some more recent studies, Stata). For many older files in the ICPSR's archive, however, the data are in a format called OSIRIS, which is no longer in use. When ICPSR files are in an OSIRIS format, they will have a data dictionary listing the variables, their names, and their locations in the raw data file. Oftentimes, ICPSR data files with OSIRIS dictionaries will also have SAS or SPSS data-definition statements, and we recommend that you use the latter when they are available because they are more likely to include value labels and such than are OSIRIS data dictionaries. Sometimes, however, an OSIRIS data dictionary will be all that is available. This guide will walk you through how to convert OSIRIS data files into other, usable formats via StatTransfer.
There are two ways to change OSIRIS data into SPSS or Stata formats. The first is the simplest and involves simple downloading and use of StatTransfer. The second is more involved and requires some (very basic) knowledge of UNIX/LINUX operating systems.
Method #2 - The Perhaps Not-Quite-So-Easy Way
If you have any questions or would like extra assistance, please feel free to contact the Data Center staff.
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