How does ICPSR define data? What kinds of data will ICPSR accept?

Data can be anything that is used as the foundation of research. Specifically, it might be answers to survey questions, text from speeches or articles, or observations from a given setting or types of interaction. ICPSR shares “raw data” for individuals to analyze, rather than the tables or other summarizations of data resulting from the analyses.

ICPSR specializes in quantitative data, such as data from surveys and administrative records, but ICPSR’s data holdings represent all of the innovations in research using naturally occurring, qualitative, mixed-method data, image and video data, social media data, and more. ICPSR data cover a wide range of subjects, including people of all ages; institutions like schools, colleges, police departments, hospitals, libraries, and art museums; as well as artifacts such as speeches, newspaper articles, and social media posts. The data span a study of public executions in 1194-1294 to present-day studies. Topics include measures of attitudes on politics and key issues over time; behaviors related to health, relationships, spending, and time use; and data on crime, victimization, education, and the arts. ICPSR actively seeks studies with nationally representative samples and those focusing on understudied populations based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or people experiencing things like teen pregnancy or drug abuse. Longitudinal and repeated cross-section data are especially valued. See the Collection Development Policy for more information about the types of data ICPSR prioritizes. ICPSR is also the archive of record for several major research funders.

Refer to the data submissions requirements for more information.