InfoGuides: Find Data for Analysis: Browse Data for Projects

Data for Projects

Social Surveys

The GSS contains a standard ‘core’ of demographic, behavioral, and attitudinal questions, plus topics of special interest (thus, not all questions are asked each year). The GSS surveys Americans about how they think and feel on a variety of issues from national spending to crime and justice. Includes research and data on the arts and culture.

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American National Election Study (ANES)

Long running study on voting and political attitudes.

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Pew Research Center

Survey data on topics including politics, media, religion and social trends. Get data from its research centers: Internet & American Life, Global Attitudes, Hispanic Center, People & the Press, Social & Demographic Trends, and Forum on Religion & Public Life.

Economic & Demographic Data

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Data Download Program

Download data related to selected Federal Reserve Board statistical releases.

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World Bank Microdata Library

Censuses and surveys conducted or supported by the World Bank, as well as by other international organizations, statistical agencies and other agencies in low and middle-income countries. Data on a wide variety of topics, such as financial, agricultural, and housing.

Religion, Arts & Culture

Association of Religion Data Archives (The ARDA)

Access to US and international religion data. The ARDA includes data archives, denominations, US congregational membership, national profiles, GIS data, & maps.

National Archive of Data on Arts & Culture (NADAC) This link opens in a new window
Interactive digital archive of policy-relevant data on the arts and cultural policy in the United States.
Use the full list of studies to search or use the facets/filters to identify a dataset of interest.
Click on the format you would like and accept the use agreement.
Format: [Zipped] SPSS, Stata, SAS, R, Excel/TSV, ASCII + Setup Files The zip file will also include the documentation.
Registration: Account through ICPSR required, Must also accept a use agreement.

How to use	We suggest using the GSS Data Explorer (registration required) to search for and select just the variables you are interested in. Filter to a specific year and subject as desired, or search for keywords. Click the orange cart to add those of interest, then choose Extract Data from the orange Actions menu in the top right and make your choices.
Data Format	[Zipped] SPSS, Stata, SAS, Excel, R Script
Registration	Not required when downloading the entire dataset (choose from SPSS or Stata above). Must register to use the Data Explorer.
Focus Fast	Click the link for SPSS or Stata above, then choose the most recent year from the second box "Download Individual Year Data Sets (cross-section only)". Download the Questionnaires and Codebook separately.

How to use	"Register" your email address, then go to the Data Center. Enter your email address to Login and see the Download Data links as needed. Follow the link to the "Study Page" to get the codebook, questionnaire, and other information. The Time Series Study is for one year's data and the Cumulative Data File contains multiple years.
Data Format:	[Zipped] SPSS (SAV, POR), Stata (DTA), ASCII
Registration:	Must register. Some special surveys are restricted.
Focus Fast:	Choose the top most "Time Series Study" to get the most recent year.

How to use	Go to their Download Datasets page then select a topical area. Log in to your account (or create one), then pick a survey and click the "Download" arrow on the right. Papers that used the data are also listed.
Data Format	[Zipped] SPSS, converting SPSS to Stata,
Registration	Create an account by providing your name and email and accepting a use agreement and terms of use, which includes agreeing only to use the data for research purposes and not trying to identify individuals.
Focus Fast	Look at the top few studies within each topic, which are the most recent.

How to use	Before you begin there are some "Things you should know" to avoid basic errors, and improve data download performance. Please read the full help section; throughout the DDP you can also access the help section from each page.
Data Format:	[Zipped] CSV, Excel, XML
Registration:	No registration required.
Focus Fast:	Choose indicator of interest. Select Preformatted Data Package. You have the option to Build Your Package to customize.

How to use	Go to the Central Microdata Catalog and use the facets/filters on the left to identify a dataset of interest. On the study page, choose the "Get Microdata" tab. Choose other tabs to get the data dictionary or related materials like questionnaires.
Data Format:	[Zipped] SPSS, Stata (see also wbopendata), Excel, CSV, ASCII + SAS Program.
Registration:	Open and Direct Data Access types just require accepting a use agreement. Others my require creating an account or requesting access.
Focus Fast:	Best Bets Open, Direct, or Public data (no registration required) about the World or US, sorted by Popularity