ICPSR: Finding Social Science Datasets

The ICPSR (Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research) database has over 9,000 datasets available spanning various social science disciplines and topics. The datasets in ICPSR are primarily quantitative, but it also includes some qualitative datasets.

SEARCHING TIPS: 

My recommendations are to try these in the order you see below:

1. Click FIND DATA > SEARCH/COMPARE VARIABLES to search for specific variables/questions asks in a survey (searches across ~76% of the datasets) -- good option pinpoint a very specific variable of interest that might be buried within a broader study.
2. Click FIND DATA -- then use Browse options to browse for data by Topics, Series, Thematic Data Collections, or Global Data
3. Use search field option to keyword search for datasets.

Need more ICPSR tips?

• Video tutorial - an overview of using ICPSR for finding datasets.
• Hands-on tutorial - walks through using ICPSR (same content as YouTube video, but you drive).

ACCESSING ICPSR DATA

Create / Login to a MyData Account

A MyData account is required to login and download any data from ICPSR. See steps below for how to either create a new MyData account or to log in to an existing MyData account. Questions? Email Mandy at aswygarthobaugh@gsu.edu or ICPSR-help@umich.edu

1. MUST Go to ICPSR via the Library’s homepage (https://library.gsu.edu) > scroll to Databases by Name A-Z  area > click the letter I
2. Next screen [A-Z Databases page]: Scroll to and click ICPSR (Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research)
3. Next screen [ICPSR homepage]: in top right corner click Log In button
4. Next screen [ICPSR login page]: Click Sign in with email button.
5. Next screen – TWO OPTIONS:
   1. Already have a MyData account? Great – it’s your GSU email account but not necessarily your current password – use Forgot password? if needed.
   2. Don’t have a MyData account? Then click Set up a new account linked text at bottom of screen and make a new account – and you MUST use your GSU email.

Downloading Data from ICPSR when Off Campus

IMPORTANT: You must have created a MyData account either on-campus or while logged in to the VPN from off campus every 6 months for it to remain validated and to be able to download ICPSR data from off campus.

1. You must access the ICPSR database through the Library's homepage -- in Databases by Name A-Z list click the letter I and then scroll to and click on ICPSR.
2. You will be prompted to log in with your CampusID and password before accessing ICPSR.
3. You may also encounter a window in which you should click the button Access Site Normally.

Accessing Public-Use/Non-Restricted Datasets

1. Make sure you've accessed the ICPSR database through the Library's homepage, and that you've logged in to your MyData Account by clicking the Log In button and logging in.
2. The dataset record's Data and Documentation tab should have the data and documentation files available to download.

Accessing Restricted Data

1. Make sure you've accessed the ICPSR database through the Library's homepage, and that you've logged in to your MyData Account by clicking the Log In/Create Account link and logging in.
2. In the Notes of an individual dataset record, you'll see this: "One or more files in this data collection have special restrictions. Restricted data files are not available for direct download from the website; click on the Restricted Data button to learn more."
3. See this page for all the ins and outs of accessing and using restricted-use datasets.

IMPORTANT: As the ICPSR "Official Representative" at GSU, Mandy Swygart-Hobaugh has no authority to bypass the restricted-data requirements nor to act in any official capacity for ICPSR or GSU in the restricted-data agreement process. She also is not the "Representative of the Institution/Institutional Representative" mentioned in the Restricted Data Use Agreement. For Institutional Representative approval, data agreements should always be routed through the GSU Office of Legal Affairs for review and approval (contact Legal Services Coordinator Kisha D. Ward). 

Avoiding Restricted Data

If you're a student trying to find datasets for a class project, chances are that accessing restricted data is not going to be feasible. To limit your search results to only public-use data (i.e., data you'll be able to download and use immediately):

1. Make sure you've accessed the ICPSR database through the Library's homepage, and that you've logged in to your MyData Account by clicking the Log In/Create Account link and logging in.
2. Use the FIND DATA option to search or browse for datasets.
3. On your search results page look to the left at the Filters.
4. Click the Restriction Type button.
5. Click Public Use.

Need assistance?  Ask Dr. Mandy (aswygarthobaugh@gsu.edu) -- she may need to direct you to ICPSR directly for help.

Looking for other places/ways to find datasets? Check out the "Finding Raw Data" tab on the Statistics and Data guide.