GLES Cross-Section 2013-2021, Sensitive Regional Data

In the dataset ´GLES Cross-Section 2013-2021, Sensitive Regional Data´, the recoded or deleted variables of the GLES Cross-Section Scientific Use Files, which refer to the respondents’ place of residence, are made available for research purposes. The basis for the assignment of the small-scale regional units are the addresses of the respondents. After geocoding, i.e. the calculation of geocoordinates based on the addresses, the point coordinates were linked to regional units (e.g. INSPIRE grid cells, municipality and district ids, postal codes). The regional variables of this dataset can be linked to the survey data of the pre- and post-election cross-sections of the GLES.

This data set contains the following sensitive regional variables (both ids and, if applying, names):
- 3-digit key for the adminsitrative governmental district (Regierungsbezirk) (since 2013)
- 3-digit key for spatial planning region (since 2013)
- 5-digit key for (city-) districts (since 2013)
- 9-digit key for municipalities (since 2021)
- 8-digit general municipality key (AGS) (since 2013)
- 12-digit regional key (Regionalschlüssel) (since 2021)
- Zip code (since 2013)
- Constituencies (since 2013)
- NUTS-3 code (since 2013)
- INSPIRE ID (1km) (since 2013)
- municipality size (since 2013)
- BIK type of municipality (since 2013)

This sensitive data is subject to a special access restriction and can only be used within the scope of an on-site use in the Secure Data Center in Cologne. Further information and contact persons can be found on our website: https://www.gesis.org/en/secdc

In order to take into account changes in the territorial status of the regional units (e. g. district reforms, municipality incorporations), the regional variables are offered as time-harmonized variables as of December 31, 2015 in addition to the status as of January 1 of the year of survey.

If you want to use the regional variables to add additional context characteristics (regional attributes such as unemployment rate or election turnout, for example), you have to send us this data before your visit. In addition, we require a reference and documentation (description of variables) of the data. Note that this context data may be as sensitive as the regional variables if direct assignment is possible. Due to data protection it is problematic if individual characteristics can be assigned to specific regional units – and therefore ultimately to the individual respondents – even without the ALLBUS dataset by means of a table of correspondence. Accordingly, the publication of (descriptive) analysis results based on such contextual data is only possible in a coarsened form.

Please contact the GLES User Service first and send us the filled GLES regional data form (see ´Data & Documents´), specifying exactly which GLES datasets and regional variables you need.
Contact: [e-mail]

As soon as you have clarified with the GLES user service which exact regional features are to be made available for on-site use, the data use agreement for the use of the data at a guest workstation in our Secure Data Center (Safe Room) in Cologne will be sent to you. Please specify all data sets you need, i.e. both the ´GLES Sensitive Regional Data (ZA6828)´ and the Scientific Use Files to which the regional variables are to be assigned. Furthermore, under ´Specific variables´, please name all the regional variables you need (see GLES regional data form).