Accessing Data From the Institut de la statistique du Québec

Detailed microdata files from surveys carried out by the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ) are available at the CADRISQ laboratory onsite at QICSS. They can be utilized according to the terms of the contract entered into between the ISQ and the researcher, in an environment that ensures data confidentiality. At the moment, the Service d’accès aux données (SAD) of the ISQ has more than 80 unmasked microdata surveys dealing with health and well-being (including children, adolescents and childcare), culture and communications, labour and compensation, and science, technology and innovation. Depending on anticipated research requirements on the one hand, and specific requests on the other, microdata files from other surveys can in some cases be made available as well.  

Research Data Access Procedure

CADRISQ offers researchers support in the preparation of their requests. For more information, please contact CADRISQ ([email protected] or 514-343-2299) or go to the ISQ’s Research Data Access Point website.

In brief, here is the procedure to be followed by a researcher wishing to access ISQ survey microdata:

• The researcher goes to the ISQ’s Research Access Data Point and registers in the Researcher Zone
• When a user account has been created, the researcher proceeds to the submission of a request for access to survey microdata
• The request is examined by an ISQ assessment committee
• If the request is accepted, the researcher must sign a contract and a confidentiality agreement in order to use of the data.

All in all, the procedure takes 4 to 6 weeks