Research Guides: Sociology Research Guide: Data Resources

Finding Datasets Through the Library

Data Planet
offers a vast collection of U.S. and international statistics. With this dynamic tool, you can scan and search the contents of billions of datasets, compare and contrast variables of interest, and create customized views in tables, maps, rankings, and charts. Views also include descriptive summaries of the datasets and data sources. Datasets cover a wide range of subjects—including business, finance, banking, economics, sociology, political science, demography, agriculture, education, international studies, criminal justice, housing and construction, labor and employment, energy resources and industries, and more. Sources include public, private/
commercial, and nongovernmental organizations.
Social Explorer
Provides U.S. demographic data back to 1790 through data reports and interactive demographic maps that can be viewed, queried, and manipulated on the site.

Finding Datasets on the Internet

(ANES) American National Election Studies
To serve the research needs of social scientists, teachers, students, policy makers and journalists, the ANES produces high quality data from its own surveys on voting, public opinion, and political participation.
(ARDA) The Association of Religion and Data Archives
ARDA strives to democratize access to the best data on religion. Founded as the American Religion Data Archive in 1997 and going online 1998, the initial archive was targeted at researchers interested in American religion. The targeted audience and the data collection have both greatly expanded since 1998, now including American and international collections submitted by the foremost religion scholars and research centers in the world.
(ARG) Alcohol Research Group
ARG makes its National Alcohol Survey datasets available to the public.
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NOTE: You will have to request access to specific datasets. Carefully read survey descriptions before requesting access.
Data.gov
U.S Government's open data where you'll find data, tools, and resources to conduct research, develop web and mobile applications, design data visualizations, and more.
(GSS) General Social Survey Data Explorer
A project of NORC at the University of Chicago, with principal funding from the National Science Foundation. Since 1972, the GSS has been monitoring societal change and studying the growing complexity of American society. GSS has been a reliable source of data to help researchers, students, and journalists monitor and explain trends in American behaviors, demographics, and opinions.
(ICPSR) Inter-University of Consortium for Political and Social Research
Maintains a data archive of more than 250,000 files of research in the social and behavioral sciences. It hosts 21 specialized collections of data in education, aging, criminal justice, substance abuse, terrorism, and other fields.
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An international consortium of more than 750 academic institutions and research organizations, ICPSR provides leadership and training in data access, curation, and methods of analysis for the social science research community.
(IPEDS) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
A system of interrelated surveys conducted annually by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). IPEDS gathers information from every college, university, and technical and vocational institution that participates in the federal student financial aid programs.
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Provides basic data needed to describe--analyze trends in--postsecondary education in the United States, in terms of the numbers of students enrolled, staff employed, dollars expended, and degrees earned.
(NLS) National Longitudinal Surveys
Associated with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, NLS is a set of surveys designed to gather information at multiple points in time on the labor market activities and other significant life events of several groups of men and women. NLS data have served as an important tool for economists, sociologists, and other researchers for more than fifty years.
(NDACAN) National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect
Promotes secondary analysis of child abuse and neglect data by providing researchers with high quality datasets, documentation and technical support, and encourages collaboration within the scientific community.
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NOTE: You will have to request access to specific datasets. Carefully read survey descriptions before requesting access.
Pew Research Center
A nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research.
(QDR) The Qualitative Data Repository
Curates, stores, preserves, publishes, and enables the download of digital data generated through qualitative and multi-method research in the social sciences.
(RCMD) Resource Center for Minority Data
Serving as a recent initiative of ICPSR, RCMD grew out of an increasingly expansive and complex interest and research on race and ethnicity. Initially, ICPSR tapped its archives to assemble existing data files that focused upon communities of color. Since the late 1990's, there has been a marked increase in studies and projects on more minorities communities and exploring a wider range of experiences and relationships. The changing demographic composition has expanded the scope of the U.S. racial and ethnic mosaic.
World Bank Open Data
Free and open access to a comprehensive set of data about development in countries around the globe.

How can I help you?

Sarah Hazelmyer

Contact:

sarah.hazelmyer@eku.edu
Crabbe Library, Rm 204K

(859) 622-8417

Subjects: Anthropology, First Year Writing, Language & Cultural Studies, Psychology, Sociology