Getting Started
Below are some suggestions on how to define your data topic and also a few strategies to help you get started with finding datasets.
Define Your Data Topic
To ensure a successful data search, start by defining your topic as clearly as possible. Be prepared to adapt your topic based on the availability of data, as not all topics will have readily accessible data. Some data might be proprietary, incomplete, or not available in a researcher-friendly format. If you encounter such limitations, you may need to refine your topic or explore alternative data sources.
As you refine your topic, we suggest visiting the "Articles & Journals" page of this guide. There, you can find articles and research papers that can help deepen your understanding of your subject.
Here are some example topics you might consider:
- Annual Consumer Price Index data for the United States, Canada, and Spain over the last 20 years.
- Average income levels in the United States by ethnicity over the past decade.
- Crime rates for gun-related offenses by state for the last 10 years.
- Educational attainment rates in Massachusetts by race over the past 20 years.
Search Strategies
Search Strategy #1: Literature Search
Conducting a literature search is valuable as it provides insights into existing research and methodologies. This can help you replicate previous studies or build upon their findings. An important aspect of this search is identifying the data sources used by other researchers. Since data sources can be diverse and numerous, it’s essential to be creative with your keyword searches. Often, data sources cited in journal articles or books can save you time and effort.
- Articles and JournalsBegin by using the Articles & Journals page of this guide to find scholarly articles and research papers related to your topic.
Search Strategy #2: Identify Potential Producers
Consider who might collect or publish the type of data you need. Once you have identified potential organizations, visit their websites to check if they provide any data publicly.
- U.S. Government Data SourcesRefer to this page for data from government sources such as the Census or Federal Reserve.
- Global Organizations Data SourcesRefer to this page for international data, such as from the World Bank or Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
- Statistical Abstract of the United StatesA now defunct, but still potentially useful, resource from the Census Bureau. It can still point you to potential data producers, and from there you can seek more recent data from other sources.
Search Strategy #3: Search in a Data Repository
Although not always the most efficient method, searching data repositories can be useful, especially if they focus on your research area.
- Social Science Data RepositoriesA list of specialized repositories for business and economic data, which may be valuable for locating relevant datasets.
Search Strategy #4: Cast a Wide Net
- Google Dataset SearchA relatively new but powerful tool that can locate datasets from across multiple repositories on the web.
- Free Publicly Available DataIf you are uncertain where else to search, explore the sources listed on this page for dozens of open access data sources.
