Accessing Raw Data Collected through SWEAP Instruments

Most of the time that programs are looking at their data collected through SWEAP they are focused on simply gathering the numbers necessary to report to CSWE about student achievement of competency. Every now and then programs are interested in exploring deeper into the responses provided by their students, especially through the SWEAP Exit Instrument.

For instance, if you're interested in seeing if there are differences in how students rate your program's services based on demographic characteristics such as age, gender and/or racial identity of the student, you can do that with raw data.

DID YOU KNOW THAT PROGRAMS DON'T  HAVE TO RELY ON THE SWEAP GENERATED REPORTS?

Programs always have access to some form of raw data collected through SWEAP Instruments. Programs can use this raw data to conduct their own analyses. It's simply a matter of understanding what you want to look for and knowing how to access the data to run your own analyses.

How do you access raw data through the SWEAP system? 

In order to access the raw data for a particular instrument, you must run a report for that particular instrument with the particular completed instruments you want to access the raw data for. In order to access raw data across various cohorts, you might need to clear existing reports under this instrument. To clear existing reports, open the relevant report(s) and select "Undo this Report" found near the top of the document after the download opens. (SWEAP recommends downloading PDFs of reports before "undoing" them.)

Once you have a report with all the data you want to access, simply use the Download this Data in Excel format button or the SPSS format button at the top of the report page (above the "undo this report" selection).

The raw data you receive through downloads from the SWEAP system will NEVER provide student names or ID numbers.

Once you have raw data in Excel and/or SPSS format, you can use your own statistical software to run cross-tabs, ANOVAs, t-tests, regression analyses, etc., to determine if particular variables/responses have statistical relationship to other variables/responses. 

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH USING DATA BEYOND YOUR OWN PROGRAM?

SWEAP is always interested in partnering with users to conduct quality research on the experiences of undergraduate and masters level social work students using data collected through SWEAP instruments. If you have an idea for a research project using SWEAP data, reach out to the SWEAP team at ask@sweapinstruments.org