Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR)

What is ICPSR? | What is available in ICPSR? | How do I find data sets on my topic? | How do I cite data sets from ICPSR? | What other services does ICPSR offer?

What is ICPSR?

ICPSR is an international consortium of over 500 research universities of which Kent State University is a member. Through its membership, Kent State students and faculty have immediate access to a searchable archive of social science data suitable for undergraduate and graduate instructional use as well as for basic research.

It is important to note that ICPSR data sets are designed for conducting statistical analysis, not for looking up specific statistics. For specific statistical information, consult the Libraries' Statistical Sources page.

What is available in ICPSR?

Holdings in ICPSR encompass a range of academic disciplines, including political science, sociology, demography, history, economics, international relations, gerontology, public health, criminal justice, and education. Data collections consist of raw, unanalyzed data files, and codebooks. ICPSR data sets can be downloaded directly to a user's computer for use with statistical software such as SPSS or SAS. In some cases, SPSS or SAS setup files are available as well.

How do I find data sets on my topic in ICPSR?

• Go to Quick Data Links for frequently requested ICPSR datasets.
• Search by keywords, title, principal investigator, or study number.
• Browse the topics covered in the ICPSR Archive.
• Go to the Special Topic Archives that focus on data in specific subject areas, such as:
  • Aging
  • Census 2000 at ICPSR
  • Criminal Justice Data
  • GSS (General Social Survey)
  • Health and Medical Care
  • International Education Data
  • Substance Abuse & Mental Health Data

How do I cite data sets from ICPSR?

A guide to Citing Electronic Data Files is available on the ICPSR Web site.

What other services does ICPSR offer to its member institutions?

• Summer Program in Quantitative Methods
  Both introductory and advanced courses are offered for social science faculty, graduate students, and research professionals wishing to study quantitative methodology.
  
• Publications-Related Archive
  Data sets in this collection include all data and information necessary to permit another researcher to replicate a corresponding published article, book, or dissertation.
  
• SDA Online Data Analysis System
  50 ICPSR data collections are available for online data analysis. You can perform certain statistical procedures on the data, create custom subsets, or browse the codebook on the Internet, without downloading the entire collection and importing the data into a statistical software package.