The Public Understanding of Law Survey (PULS) dataset
Access the dataset and guidance on the best way to use the data.
How to access the PULS dataset
You can download the PULS dataset in a number of formats on this page.
We have created a short guide to using the PULS dataset that outlines the dataset form, contents, and variables. Further information about the survey and measures is available in the PULS annotated questionnaire and the PULS technical report.
Consulting this material is the best way to quickly understand what the PULS measured and why, and how the data can be used.
The downloadable dataset includes only broad geography measures, as we have removed other geographic variables to preserve anonymity.
We are currently undertaking further geographic analysis of legal need using PULS data, which will be published in due course. If you are interested in conducting geographic analysis, please contact the VLF research team.
Available formats
The PULS dataset is available in SPSS and STATA formats, two of the most widely used commercial statistical software packages. Each of those file formats can be opened with the appropriate open source and free R programming language software, also widely used for statistical analysis.
If you require the dataset in an alternative format, please contact the VLF research team.
Topics
Webinars, workshops, forums and public events to support engagement with the justice system.
Related
Webinars, workshops, forums and public events to support engagement with the justice system.
Our legal capability measures that can be used to form policy insights is central to our research.

Our legal capability measures that can be used to form policy insights is central to our research.
As an expansive and rich dataset, we can focus on the needs and capability of specific groups and characteristics to learn more about the law in people's lives.

As an expansive and rich dataset, we can focus on the needs and capability of specific groups and characteristics to learn more about the law in people's lives.
The PULS is a first-of-its-kind in the world and represents a significant development in this kind of research.

The PULS is a first-of-its-kind in the world and represents a significant development in this kind of research.
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