How to cite data

Data needs to be cited in research papers just like any other resource, and often using the same pieces of information as would be used for a book or article:

• Author or creator - The person(s), organization, issuing agency or agencies responsible for creating or publishing the dataset
• Date of publication - The year the dataset was published, posted, or otherwise released (not the date of the subject matter)
• Title or description - The complete title of the dataset or, if no title exists, a brief description of the dataset which includes time period covered in the data if applicable
• Publisher  - The entity (organization, database, archive, journal, etc.) responsible for hosting the data 
• URL (or DOI) - The address (or unique identifier) that can be used to find the dataset online

APA data citation example

Lastname, F. M. or Name of Group (Year). Title of dataset (Version No.) [Data set]. Publisher. DOI or URL

Bureau of Transportation Statistics. (2022). 2020 national census of ferry operators [Data set]. United States Department of Transportation. https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/NCFO-Data-Files/uzij-3ksd

MLA data citation example

Note: MLA does not have a specific style for datasets, so follow the general guidelines for print or web publications (whichever is applicable).

Lastname, Firstname M. or Name of Group. Title of dataset. Publisher, Publication Date, Publisher Location. DOI or URL. Date of access (if applicable).

Bureau of Transportation Statistics. 2020 National Census of Ferry Operators. United States Department of Transportation, 01 March, 2022, Washington DC. https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/NCFO-Data-Files/uzij-3ksd. Accessed 22 Sep. 2022.

Chicago data citation examples

Note: Chicago does not have a specific style for datasets, so follow the general guidelines for print or web publications (whichever is applicable).

Author-Date

Lastname, Firstname or Name of Group. Title of dataset. Place: Publisher, Year. URL or DOI.

Bureau of Transportation Statistics. 2020 National Census of Ferry Operators. Washington DC: United States Department of Transportation, 2022. https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/NCFO-Data-Files/uzij-3ksd.

Notes and Bibliography

N:

1. Firstname M. Lastname or Name of Group, Title of dataset (Place: Publisher, Year), URL or DOI.

1. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2020 National Census of Ferry Operators (Washington DC: United States Department of Transportation, 2022), https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/NCFO-Data-Files/uzij-3ksd.

B:

Lastname, Firstname M. Title of dataset. Place: Publisher, Year. URL or DOI.

Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2020 National Census of Ferry Operators. Washington DC: United States Department of Transportation, 2022. https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/NCFO-Data-Files/uzij-3ksd.