Key elements of large survey data sets

One low-cost area of research that nurses typically do not consider is to perform secondary analyses of large federal or state health care data sets. These data sets contain vast amounts of existing data that otherwise would be difficult and expensive to gather, thereby enabling research which is economically feasible and which potentially has wide implications and applications. Large survey data may be free and easy to access, but that does not mean that retrieving the raw data, examining the manuals for the survey, and conducting the secondary analysis is simple or easy. To analyze the data accurately, it is essential that nurse researchers fully understand all key elements of the data set survey chosen, as well as how to prepare and manage the data. In a time of limited funding and resources, and of numerous health concerns in all age groups across different races and ethnicities, nurse researchers need to utilize the many venues that contain rich and vast amounts of data such as large data sets.