Cite a dataset by treating it as a unique research output with its own authorship, publication date, title, and persistent identifier (usually a DOI).
Basic Citation Structure
Most citation styles follow this pattern:
Author(s). (Year). Dataset Title (Version number) [Data set]. Publisher/Repository. DOI or URL
For example in APA 7th edition:
National Center for Health Statistics. (2021). National Health Interview Survey, 2020 (Version 2.0) [Data set]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://doi.org/10.15139/S3/ABCDEF
Key Elements to Include
- Creator/Author: List the individual researchers, organization, or institution that produced the dataset
- Publication Year: When the dataset was released or last updated
- Title: The official dataset name, italicized in most styles
- Version: Include if the dataset has multiple releases
- Format Identifier: Add [Data set] or [Dataset] in brackets
- Publisher/Repository: Where the data is archived (e.g., Zenodo, Figshare, institutional repository)
- Persistent Identifier: Always use the DOI when available; otherwise provide a stable URL
Style-Specific Variations
MLA 9th: Author. Title. Version, Publisher, Year. DOI/URL.
Chicago 17th: Author. Year. Title. Version. Repository. DOI.
Practical Tips
Check the dataset's landing page — most repositories provide a "Cite this dataset" button with pre-formatted citations. If you're managing multiple dataset citations alongside traditional sources, WisPaper's TrueCite automatically verifies citation formatting across APA, MLA, Chicago, and other styles while you write.
Always cite the specific version you used to ensure reproducibility. If you accessed data through a secondary source (like a government portal redistributing another organization's data), cite the original creator when possible, noting your access point in brackets.
