Association of Religion Data Archives

Roger Finke, then professor of sociology at Purdue University, founded the American Religion Data Archive in 1996 on a grant from Lilly Endowment. Data file collection and processing began in 1997. The online archive launched in the fall of 1998 under the domain name www.thearda.com, and originally contained thirty-three surveys regarding American religion. Within ten years, the archive had expanded to include more than 400 data files. {{As of|2016}}, more than 900 data files were available for download on the ARDA website.

Starting in 2005, the ARDA began to host surveys dealing with religion outside the United States.{{cite journal|last=Finke|first=Roger|author2=Amy Adamczyk|title=The Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA): Online Research Data, Tools, and References|journal=Politics and Religion|year=2008|volume=1|issue=3|pages=456–470|doi=10.1017/s1755048308000412|pmid=25484914|pmc=4254728}} In 2006, the archive therefore changed its name from the American Religion Data Archive to the Association of Religion Data Archives to more properly reflect the scope of information available. The new name preserved both the acronym and the domain name from the American Religion Data Archive.{{cite journal|last=Merino|first=Stephen M|author2=Roger Finke|title=Stimulating Research and Discovery in the Study of Religion: The Association of Religion Data Archives (www.theARDA.com)|journal=Geographies of Religions and Belief Systems|year=2008–2009|volume=3|issue=1|pages=3–17}}

Since its founding, the ARDA has moved from Purdue to the Population Research Institute at Pennsylvania State University, where is still run under the direction of Roger Finke, with the assistance of Christopher Bader of Chapman University.{{cite web|title=ARDA|url=https://www.thearda.com/about/about-the-arda|work=About the ARDA|access-date=10 January 2024}} The staff has, since 1997, expanded to include a research team of religion experts and graduate students, a marketing and web development team, a team of editors for guiding papers and working papers, a learning center editor, and a press room editor.

The primary component of the ARDA, the data archive, contains over 1,000 quantitative data files {{as of|2024|1|lc=y}}.{{cite web|title=Data Archive Alphabetical Listing|url=https://www.thearda.com/data-archive/browse-alphabetically|work=ARDA|access-date=1 January 2024}} ARDA staff do not themselves collect the data encompassed in these files; rather, the surveys' principal investigators submit their data to the ARDA for processing and archiving.{{cite journal|last=Merino|first=Stephen M.|author2=Roger Finke|title=Stimulating Research and Discovery in the Study of Religion: The Association of Religion Data Archives (www.theARDA.com)|journal=Geographies of Religions and Belief Systems|date=2008|volume=3|issue=1|pages=3–17}} Thus, the data files currently included in the archive originate from almost 200 different sources. Major data file contributors include the Presbyterian Panel Survey, the Southern Focus Poll, the U.S. Congregational Life Survey, and the Middletown Area Study. Data from the General Social Survey, the American National Election Studies, the World Religion Database, and the Pew Research Center are also available. Among the most common topics of information included are public opinions regarding social issues (e.g. abortion, homosexuality, the role of women), survey respondents' perceptions of God/the divine, and survey respondents' religious affiliations.{{cite web|title=Measurement Wizard|url=https://www.thearda.com/data-archive/measurements|work=ARDA|access-date=10 January 2024}}

In addition to archived survey data, the ARDA also provides information regarding the religious composition of, and the state of religious freedom in, the 232 nations currently recognized by the United States State Department;{{cite web|title=National Profiles|url=https://www.thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles|work=ARDA|access-date=10 January 2024}} membership and distributional data and historical lineages ("Family Trees") of major world religions and U.S. denominations thereof;{{cite web|title=Religious Group Profiles|url=https://www.thearda.com/menu-selection-landing-page?topmenu=Congregations&submenu=Group%20Profiles|work=ARDA|access-date=10 January 2024}} and various learning tools.{{cite web|title=The Learning Center|url=https://www.thearda.com/menu-selection-landing-page?topmenu=Teaching|work=ARDA|access-date=10 January 2024}}

A bi-weekly journalistic article dealing with matters of religion and (usually American) public life, written by David Briggs, also appears on the ARDA website.{{cite web|title=The Press Room|url=http://blogs.thearda.com/trend/|work=ARDA|access-date=17 February 2014}} This article is cross-posted to the Huffington Post, for which Briggs also writes.{{cite web|title=David Briggs|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-briggs/|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=17 February 2014}}

In 2015, the ARDA began providing interactive historical timelines of religion in the United States.{{cite web|title=American Religion Timelines|url=https://www.thearda.com/us-religion/history/timelines|website=Association of Religion Data Archives|access-date=10 January 2024}} Currently, there are nine interactive timelines listed: Prominent Religious Events and People, Social Movements and Religion, Religious Minorities, Race/Ethnicity and Religion, Women and Religion, Baptist Events and People, Catholic Events and People, Methodist Events and People, and Presbyterian Events and People.

The ARDA is both affiliated with and funded by the following organizations:{{cite web|title=ARDA|url=http://www.thearda.com/|access-date=27 November 2013}}

• Lilly Endowment
• The John Templeton Foundation
• Pennsylvania State University
• Chapman University

The ARDA is affiliated with the following organizations without funding:

• The Association for the Study of Religion, Economics, and Culture
• The Bar Ilan University Religion and State Project
• The International Association of Religion Journalists
• The Portrait of American Life Survey

• The ARDA was one of thirty online resources selected by the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) division of the American Library Association for the 2010 Best Free Reference Websites List.{{cite web|title=Best Free Reference Websites 2010 Twelfth Annual List RUSA Machine-Assisted Reference Section (MARS)|url=http://www.ala.org/rusa/sections/mars/marspubs/marsbestfreewebsites/marsbestfree2010|work=Reference and User Services Association|date=5 May 2010|access-date=24 October 2013}}
• The Lilly Endowment's "Insights into Religion" portal lists the ARDA as one of the best online resources for continuing education about religion,{{cite web|title=Best Resources for Continuing Education|url=http://religioninsights.org/best-resources-continuing-education|work=Insights into Religion|access-date=14 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213073039/http://religioninsights.org/best-resources-continuing-education|archive-date=13 December 2013|url-status=dead}} demographic research, youth research,{{cite web|title=Insights into Religion|url=http://religioninsights.org/best-resources-demographic-research|work=Best Resources for Demographic Research: Current and Historic Demographic Information for Your Parish|access-date=14 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213073027/http://religioninsights.org/best-resources-demographic-research|archive-date=13 December 2013|url-status=dead}} and teaching religion.{{cite web|title=Best Resources for Youth Research|url=http://religioninsights.org/best-resources-youth-research|work=Insights into Religion|access-date=14 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213072854/http://religioninsights.org/best-resources-youth-research|archive-date=13 December 2013|url-status=dead}}

• Religion and the internet

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{official website|http://www.TheARDA.com}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Online archives of the United States

Category:American religious websites