Data Services: How to Cite Data

Why Cite Data?

Why should you cite data?

For the same reason you cite journal articles and other resources.

Gives credit to your sources
Lets people read the source for more information
Allows independent verification of yourl results
By acknowledging sources, it shows the reader how we came to our conclusions.
Indicates the work required to locate and collect data
Gives a context to your conclusions
Demonstrates integrity and skill

APA style

APA style dataset citation:

Hanging paragraph (first line extends to the left)

Author
Period
Left parenthesis
Year
Right parenthesis
Period, space
Name or Title of the Data set (in italics)
Version number
Description (in square brackets)
Period
"Retrieved from " DOI or URL

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental
    Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies. (2013). Treatment
    episode data set -- discharges (TEDS-D) -- concatenated, 2006 to 2009 [Data
    set]. doi:10.3886/ICPSR30122.v2

(example from http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2013/12/how-to-cite-a-data-set-in-apa-style.html)

For more descriptions, see pages 210 through 212 in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition - King, B.E.S.T., and Music library call number: BF76.7 .P83 2010

MLA style

MLA - no specific dataset form, but the following uses rules from anthology, reference work, and electronic materials.

Author
Period
"Title" (in Quotes)
Title of Dataset (in italics)
Period
Edition
Period
Editor
Period
Publisher/Archive name
Comma
Year or date
Period
DOI or URL
Period

American Veterinary Medical Association. "Table 1204: Household Pet Ownership: 2006." Statistical Abstract of the United States. 129th ed. Ed. U.S. Census Bureau. Washington D.C.: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010. Web. 14 July 2010. <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/tables/10s1204.pdf>.

(example from http://libguides.lib.msu.edu/c.php?g=96245&p=626237)

For more information, see MLA handbook for writers of research papers - King and Art/Arch call number: LB2369 .G53 2009