Social Science Data Resources
A guide for ASU Faculty, researchers, students, and community Social Sciences Data resources.
Social Sciences Librarian
Social Sciences Librarian
Finding datasets
Looking for raw data to analyze in your research? These resources provide access to downloadable datasets that you can use for statistical analysis, modeling, and original research. Unlike pre-compiled statistics, datasets contain individual-level or unit-level data that allow you to perform your own calculations, test hypotheses, and conduct advanced analyses. Whether you need survey microdata, government administrative records, international economic indicators, or specialized social science data, these resources will help you locate high-quality datasets for quantitative research.
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DATA.GOVThe U.S. government's open data portal provides free access to thousands of datasets from federal agencies. Browse datasets by topic (agriculture, climate, education, energy, health, public safety, science) or search for specific data. All datasets are available for download and use without restrictions, supporting transparency and innovation.
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General Social Survey (GSS)The GSS is a leading source for monitoring societal change and studying the evolving American social landscape. This publicly available dataset has tracked attitudes, behaviors, and attributes of American society since 1972, making it invaluable for longitudinal research in sociology, political science, and related fields.
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Google Datasets SearchGoogle Dataset Search is a specialized search engine that helps researchers discover datasets across the web. It indexes datasets from repositories, government sites, and academic sources, providing a broad starting point for finding data on virtually any topic.
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ICPSR: Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social ResearchICPSR provides access to over 19,000 datasets for social science research and teaching. This comprehensive data archive includes specialized collections in education, aging, criminal justice, substance abuse, terrorism, and other social science fields. ICPSR is a consortium of academic institutions offering data access, curation, and methods of analysis for researchers worldwide.
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OECD iLibraryAccess data and publications from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and related agencies. The OECD iLibrary includes economic indicators, social statistics, education data, environmental metrics, and policy analysis from member countries. Datasets are downloadable and include international comparisons across developed economies.
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R3DataDiscover research data repositories across all academic disciplines worldwide. R3Data indexes over 3,000 repositories, providing detailed information about each repository's scope, access conditions, data types, and standards. Use this registry to identify appropriate repositories for depositing your data or finding discipline-specific datasets.
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Roper Center for Public Opinion Research (iPoll)iPoll offers comprehensive access to U.S. public opinion data with nearly 500,000 survey questions from national polls. Search at the question level to find specific public opinion trends, or download complete datasets for statistical analysis. This resource is essential for studying American public attitudes and opinions over time.