Data Repository
Standardised social contact survey datasets from around the world, supporting research on human contact patterns and infectious disease transmission.
Please cite both the data repository link and the associated research paper for each entry, to support the researchers who collected it.
Each study has its own design, sampling approach, and way of defining and collecting contacts. Please refer to the original publication and study documentation to understand the context and limitations before using or combining datasets. For an overview of how such design choices can affect results, see Bolton et al. (2012).
How the data are organised
Each dataset is organised into linked files. The table below shows the main data categories and the keys used to connect them.
| Category | Description | Primary key | Foreign key(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant | Information about study participants | part_id |
hh_id |
| Contact | Reported social contacts | contact_id |
sday_id, part_id |
| Household | Information about participants’ households | hh_id |
— |
| Survey day | Information about the survey day | sday_id |
part_id |
| Time-use (optional) | Information about participants’ time use | part_id |
sday_id |
| Dictionary | Definitions and coding information for variables | — | — |
The common files contain harmonised variables that are available across many social contact surveys, while extra files contain additional variables specific to the study. The dictionary provides the information needed to interpret the variables and their coding.
The keys shown above allow information to be linked across files. Because study designs and data collection procedures differ between surveys, please consult the original publication and study documentation before using or combining datasets.