Accessing Restricted Data

Let ICPSR be your data concierge! We have 60 years of experience sharing data with the social science research community, including confidential and sensitive data that requires restricted access. We've helped thousands of researchers navigate data access restrictions, enabling them to to find and reuse the data needed to answer research questions.

One of SBE CCC's goals is to support our consortium members—and other SBE researchers studying the COVID-19 pandemic—as they navigate data access restrictions. Here are a few resources to help get you started. Please contact us for further assistance with locating and accessing the data that you need.

Accessing Restricted Data at ICPSR
Are you interested in using restricted data from ICPSR to explore topics useful in your COVID-19-related research? ICPSR houses restricted holdings such as the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), Monitoring the Future, and a number of other restricted-use studies with data collections from 2020 or later. Start here to learn about your options and procedures for getting access to the data that you need.

Data Confidentiality
Learn more about ICPSR's approach to handling confidential data.

ResearchDataGov
Do you need restricted data from a US federal government entity? ICPSR's ResearchDataGov is the place to start. ResearchDataGov is your one-stop-shopping place for all restricted data from the US federal statistical system. Use our metadata portal to browse available restricted-use data and, starting later in 2022, to apply for access and manage your access across agencies.

Researcher Passport
It's like a travel passport, but for data access. Use ICPSR's Researcher Passport to streamline the process of applying to use restricted data across institutions.