Numeric Data Available to the BU Community | Sites for Locating and Downloading Data
Data Services in the Bartle Library Reference Department provides numeric data for social science research. For assistance contact Ben Andrus, ICPSR Official Representative, (607) 777-4403.
Services include:
- Locating and purchasing data resources for research and instructional use
- Maintaining university affiliations to ICPSR and New York State Data Center Program (U.S. Bureau of the Census)
Numeric Data Available to the BU Community
The following is a selection of data products available from the Libraries. For assistance locating specific data, please contact the Research Help Desk.
ICPSR Data Archive (Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research)
ICPSR offers more than 500,000 digital files containing social science research data. Disciplines represented include political science, sociology, demography, economics, history, gerontology, criminal justice, public health, foreign policy, terrorism, health and medical care, early education, education, racial and ethnic minorities, psychology, law, substance abuse and mental health, and more.
Prior to downloading from the archive, you will be prompted to create a MyData Account which serves as a shopping cart for your files. You must use a valid BU email address as your user ID.
Historical Statistics of the United States (Millennial Edition)
Includes statistics from over 1,000 sources and includes more than 37,000 data series. Covers data on social, behavioral, humanistic, and natural sciences including history, economics, government, finance, sociology, demography, education, law, natural resources, climate, religion, international migration, and trade - quantitative facts of American History. Major categories include: Population, Work and Welfare, Economic Structure and Performance, Economic Sectors, Governance and International Relations.
International Historical Statistics, 1750-2010
This database provides key economic and social indicators for the last 260 years gathered from a multitude of statistical sources. Tables are downloadable as PDFs or Excel spreadsheets
Includes US Decennial Census data from 1790 to 2010, all annual updates from the American Community Survey, the Religious Congregations and Membership Study from 1980 to 2000, and selected election and carbon emissions data. Users can customize, save, print, export and email maps and reports. The site is updated three times annually. Includes only state and county data through 1930. Includes tracts 1940 to present and block groups 1980 to present. Does not include STF 1 block level data.
Contains statistical data for over 800 development indicators and time series data from 1960 for over 220 countries and country groups. Data includes social, economic, financial, natural resources, and environmental indicators. Results can be scaled, indexed against a particular year, viewed by percentage change, and charted. Data can also be exported in standard formats like Excel.
Sites for Locating and Downloading Data
Open Access Directory: data repositories worldwide
re3data.org: registry of Research Data Repositories
PUMS (US Census Bureau)
PUMS files contain records for a sample of housing units with information on the characteristics of each unit and each person in it. While preserving confidentiality (by removing identifiers), these microdata files permit users with special data needs to prepare virtually any tabulation.
Create tables or maps and download data from the Census of Population and Housing, Economic Census, or American Community Survey.
Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES)
"The Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES) is a collaborative program of research among election study teams from around the world. Participating countries include a common module of survey questions in their post-election studies. The resulting data are deposited along with voting, demographic, district and macro variables. The studies are then merged into a single, free, public dataset for use in comparative study and cross-level analysis."
IPUMS: Integrated Public Use Microdata Samples
IPUMS provides census and survey data from around the world integrated across time and space. IPUMS integration and documentation makes it easy to study change, conduct comparative research, merge information across data types, and analyze individuals within family and community context.
A source for several hundred thousand economic time series data at the U.S. National, State/Local, and International levels.
Provides access to the various statistical series for and about New York State's economy and population including estimates. Download data as spreadsheet files.
Qualitative Data Repository (QDR)
A dedicated archive for storing and sharing digital data (and accompanying documentation) generated or collected through qualitative and multi-method research in the social sciences. QDR provides search tools to facilitate the discovery of data, and also serves as a portal to material beyond its own holdings, with links to U.S. and international archives. The repository's initial emphasis is on political science.
