Aila User Instructions

Aila is the data service portal of the Finnish Social Science Data Archive. The portal provides access to an online data catalogue, an online data ordering and download system and a file transfer service for archiving data.

A data catalogue, comprehensive documentation of research data, and frequency distributions are freely available to everyone without registering as a user. Aila also contains datasets licensed under CC BY 4.0 (Opens in a new tab) , which can be downloaded without registration or logging in to the service. Most of the datasets can only be downloaded by registering as a user of the service.

Registration as a user

Members of Finnish universities, universities of applied sciences and research institutions register in Aila using Haka credentials provided by their home organisation. In the Haka Login section, users select their own organisation. The username is the same as that used for the organisation’s electronic services. After logging in, the Aila registration form has to be completed. Registration with Haka credentials is then approved immediately, and the user can download datasets from their Aila account in accordance with the terms of use, or upload files intended for archiving to the service (see guidelines below).

If the user does not have Haka credentials, they can apply for an Aila username through the Finnish Social Science Data Archive’s user services. These credentials are primarily granted to students and researchers from foreign higher education institutions, as well as to members of Finnish research organisations that are not part of the Haka federation .

The registration form asks for the purpose for which the user needs Aila (downloading data or depositing data). If the user is registering in order to download datasets, they are asked about the intended use of the data. User services processes the registration. If the registration is approved, the username and a link for setting a password are sent by email.

By registering for the service, the user accepts Terms and Conditions for Using Aila and Data LINKKI. The processing of personal data of registered users is described in the Privacy Notice for Aila Customers.

Datasets are downloaded individually from the data description page. When downloading datasets other than those licensed under CC BY 4.0 (Opens in a new tab) , an access application must be completed, specifying the purpose of use, the name and a short description of the research project or course, and information on funders, if any. By downloading the dataset, the user agrees to comply with the Terms and Conditions for Using Aila and Data LINKKI.

The download package is automatically saved as a ZIP file, usually in the Downloads folder or in a folder specified by the user. The location of the download folder can be changed in the browser settings.

Depositing data through Aila

Detailed instructions for transferring data files and metadata for archiving in Aila are available: Depositing data through Aila.

Data availability statement in publications

Data availability statements published in scientific journals (sometimes referred to as a data access statement) inform readers where the research data associated with a publication can be accessed. Include in the statement the citation and persistent identifier (URN or DOI) assigned to the dataset by the Finnish Social Science Data Archive. Both can be found in the dataset description. Using the persistent identifier, the dataset can be located and accessed through Aila in accordance with the dataset's terms of use.

Publishing a separate replication dataset derived from a dataset available in Aila in another service is permitted only with the permission of the dataset authors. Obtaining the authors’ current contact information and securing their permission are the responsibility of the customer. The permission request must describe which variables or other parts of the dataset are intended to be included in the replication dataset.

If the dataset creators grant permission to publish the replication dataset, the replication dataset must include a reference to the original dataset published in Aila. In addition, the customer must provide the Finnish Social Science Data Archive’s customer service with the citation, persistent identifier, and web address from which the replication dataset is available.

Service language

The user interface languages are Finnish and English. All datasets are described in both Finnish and English. For registered users who are logged in to Aila, the default language of the user interface is the same as the service language selected during registration. The language can be changed using the language selector at the top of the page (EN or FI).