Dataverse FAQs

This page has been created to support applicants.

Which email?

It is best to use your institutional email – university and/or work. These email addresses usually adhere to a higher level of security than personal or commercial emails such as Hotmail, Gmail, QQ etc. We also can’t verify who you are, if you use a personal email to open your account.

Dataverse Account:Verifying your email

Log in to Dataverse and go to Account Information (top right menu under your name). Click “Verify Email” next to your email address to receive a verification link.

Use the link within 24 hours to complete verification. If you don’t receive the email within an hour, check your spam or junk folder.

Troubleshooting: If you see an error message, try a different browser. Also, if it has been less than 24 hours since you created your account, a verification link was sent in an email upon sign up. Check your emails to use that link.

How to Update your Email

Here’s how to update your email:

1. Log in to your Dataverse account. https://dataverse.ada.edu.au/
2. Click your username at the top right and select Account Information.
3. In the Edit Account menu, choose Account Information again.
4. Update your email to your institutional address and save the changes.
5. You’ll receive an automated email to verify the new address—please click the link to verify your email.

Troubleshooting: If you don’t receive the verification email within an hour, check your spam or junk folder.

DSS Longitudinal Studies Confidentiality Deed Poll

If you want to access any of the Department of Social Services Longitudinal Studies datasets, you need to submit a confidentiality deed poll.

Please ensure that the deed is filled out correctly. This video explains how to fill it out Youtube video.

What to include in your Project Abstract

A brief abstract should be a full paragraph (not just 1-2 sentences) that helps us assess whether this data suits your research/project needs and shows you’ve reviewed the available metadata. Metadata tab is located above the data files list on Dataverse.

Please address:

• Your main research question or objective
• How you’ll use this data, including relevant methods and variables
• The purpose and significance of your research – what you hope to learn or achieve

This demonstrates you’ve confirmed this is the right data for your research or project.

Example Abstract

This research examines the relationship between educational attainment and long-term income mobility among Australian workers, with particular focus on how skill development affects wage trajectories over time. Using the HILDA Survey data (Waves 1-24), I will employ fixed-effects regression models to track individual income changes while controlling for time-invariant personal characteristics. Key variables include educational qualifications, employment status, occupation type, household income, and the Wave 24 special topic data on education, skills and abilities.

The study aims to determine whether investments in education and skill acquisition lead to sustained income growth, or if returns diminish over career spans. This research will contribute to policy discussions on workforce development and lifelong learning initiatives by identifying which educational pathways produce the most significant long-term economic benefits. The longitudinal nature of HILDA's 24-year coverage makes it uniquely suited to this analysis, as it allows observation of the same individuals across their career trajectories, capturing both immediate and delayed effects of educational investments on economic outcomes.