How to cite a data set in APA 7

References and in-text citations for data sets

This guide shows how to create the APA reference and in-text citations for published data, raw data, and archived data sets. Create a reference when you analyze someone else's data or when your own data are available to readers.

The reference identifies who produced the data, when it was published or collected, which data set was used, and where it can be retrieved.

Basic structure

Author or Organization. (Year). Title of data set (Version) [Data set]. Repository. DOI or URL

Include the version after the title when one exists. The bracketed description can be adjusted, such as [Data set], [Data set and codebook], or [Unpublished raw data].

Published data example

The details and address are illustrative.

Reference

Center for Educational Studies. (2024). University study habits survey (Version 2) [Data set]. Open Education Repository. https://example.com/data/study-habits

Parenthetical citationThe source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024).

(Center for Educational Studies, 2024)

Narrative citationThe author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024).

Center for Educational Studies (2024)

Untitled or changing data

For an untitled data set, provide a bracketed description of its status and subject. For unpublished data, use the year or range of years when the data were collected and add the source institution when known.

Include a retrieval date only when the data set is designed to change over time and no archived version exists. A fixed version with a publication date does not need one.

More data examples

All data and addresses are illustrative.

Data set and codebook

Reference

Institute for Youth Studies. (2023). National student well-being survey (Version 1.1) [Data set and codebook]. Social Data Archive. https://example.com/data/well-being

Parenthetical citation:The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Institute for Youth Studies, 2023)

Narrative citation:The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Institute for Youth Studies (2023)

Unpublished raw data

Reference

Morales, P. J. (2022–2024). University tutoring attendance records [Unpublished raw data]. Central University.

Parenthetical citation:The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Morales, 2022–2024)

Narrative citation:The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Morales (2022–2024)

Untitled data set

Reference

Open Learning Laboratory. (2024). [Data set on screen reading times]. Metropolitan University.

Parenthetical citation:The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Open Learning Laboratory, 2024)

Narrative citation:The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Open Learning Laboratory (2024)

How to check the reference

• You identified the person or organization responsible for the data.
• You included the version when available.
• You added a bracketed description.
• You used a DOI or stable URL for published data.
• You added a retrieval date only for changing, unarchived data.
• The citation uses the author or organization and year.

See the APA reference types.