How do I Cite Data?
How can I make a citation for a dataset or statistic?
Answer
Citing your data source is just as important as citing your other research sources. Proper citations allow others to locate the original data.
Citation Tips:
These are general guidelines--always check with your advisor or target publication for specific style requirements.
- Look for citation instructions (or a link or button) on the data provider's site. Many repositories (e.g., ICPSR) offer ready-to-copy citations and also support tools like Zotero.
- In ICPSR, go to the Study Description section for the citation
- Use a DOI Citation Formatter to generate citations in your preferred style.
- Use the key elements listed in the section below along with instructions for your citation style.
Check your generated citation against the key elements to be sure they're included in the data citation.
Key Elements of a Data Citation
Author or Creator—The name(s) of each individual or organizational entity responsible for the creation of the dataset.
Title or Study Name—The title of the dataset, including the edition or version number, if applicable.
Publisher and/or Distributor—The organizational entity that makes the dataset available by archiving, producing, publishing, and/or distributing the dataset.
Publication Date—The date when the data set was published or released.
Location or Identifier—Web address or unique, persistent, global identifier used to locate the dataset, e.g., a DOI or a handle. Append the date retrieved if the title and locator are not specific to the exact instance of the data you used.
Additional Elements
Version or Edition—The exact version or edition of the data set.
Access Date—Date of access for analysis. Needed to reproduce analysis of continuously updated dynamic datasets.
Format / Material Designator—Database, CD-ROM.
Feature Name—A description of the subset of the dataset used. May be a formal title or a list of variables.
Series—Used if the dataset is part of series of releases (e.g. monthly, yearly).
Contributor—e.g. editor, compiler
Examples
APA (7th edition)
APA 7th edition: Data set references
O’Donohue, W. (2017). Content analysis of undergraduate psychology textbooks (ICPSR 36966; Version V1) [Data set]. ICPSR. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36966.v1
MLA (7th edition)
Smith, Tom W., Peter V. Marsden, and Michael Hout. General Social Survey, 1972-2010 Cumulative File. ICPSR31521-v1. Chicago, IL: National Opinion Research Center [producer]. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2011. Web. 23 Jan 2012. doi:10.3886/ICPSR31521.v1
Chicago (16th edition) (author-date)(author-date)
Chicago Manual of Style Online
Smith, Tom W., Peter V. Marsden, and Michael Hunt. 2011. General Social Survey, 1972-2010 Cumulative File. ICPSR31521-v1. Chicago, IL: National Opinion Research Center. Distributed by Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research. doi:10.3886/ICPSR31521.v1
Data Citation Guides
- ICPSR: Citing Data: more examples for citing datasets
- A Quick Guide to Data Citation. IASSIST Special Interest Group on Data Citation, 2012.
- Michigan State University Libraries' detailed guide on citing data and statistical tables, charts and graphs.
- how to cite statistical tables published in a publication or on a website
Acknowledgements
Content in this guide was reused from University of North Carolina's "How to Cite Data" subject guide and ICPSR's guide on data citation