The Research Data Centre of the German Ageing Survey (FDZ-DEAS) provides access to the micro-data of the German Ageing Survey (DEAS). We make survey information available to scholars for non-commercial purposes and advise potential users of how to best deploy the DEAS data for their research goals. Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions.
The German Ageing Survey (DEAS) is a nationwide representative cross-sectional and longitudinal survey of the German population aged over 40. It is funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). Currently, three survey waves for the years 1996, 2002, and 2008 are available. In each survey year, a nationally representative sample is drawn and subsequently followed up. In 2011, all panel-willing participants of the previous DEAS-waves will be questioned once more. From 2012 on, participants of the ages of 70 and above will be questioned annually. The drawing of a further base sample of 40- to 85 year-olds is scheduled for 2014.
Participants are questioned in detail on their objective and subjective living situation. In addition, tests of cognitive capability and physical functioning are applied. The DEAS has a cohort-sequential longitudinal design, a broad thematic spectrum, national representativity with a comparatively large number of cases and a relatively long observation period, and is hence a unique German database for interdisciplinary research on the living conditions and life courses as well as the subjective perception and scheme of life of ageing and older individuals.
Information on the samples and the survey instruments can be found in the documentation (English version currently for wave II only). There, you will also find a quick introduction of the SUF for each DEAS wave (to date only in German) giving further information to drawing the sample, the scheme of variable classification as well as explanatory notes on user-friendly generated variables and constructs available.
Data from completed DEAS waves run through a process of editing and are made anonymous before the Research Data Centre provides the Scientific Use Files (SUFs) in SPSS-format and free of charge. STATA-versions of the SUFs will be available in the near future. For reasons of data protection, signing a data distribution contract is required prior to obtaining the data.
