Introduction to the ICPSR Data Archive

What are data?

Area, Topic, Question, & Your Search Terms

What to look for in a dataset

Online Analysis

Downloading a Dataset

Help pages
Seeley G. Mudd Library | Library Research

Important information about a dataset

The description for the American Citizen Participation Study, 1990 includes some important information.
  • Related literature
    • - an impressive list of publications produced using these data
  • Summary
    • - does the study clearly relate to your topic?
  • Extent of collection -
    look for plain data files, documentation (the printed material that describes the variables and survey instrument) and SPSS data definition statements or SPSS export file
    avoid a study that only has "OSIRIS" dictionary instead of SPSS
  • Data format
    • - is the file type LRECL - "logical record length," or "heirarchical"? Are SPSS data definition statements or other statistical formats available?
  • Bibliographic citation -
    • How you would cite this study if you used it in a report?
  • Keyword
    • - the words used to index this study may be useful to find similar studies

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