How to cite a dataset in APA 7

Cite a data set when you use the data itself, from a repository such as ICPSR, a university archive or a government site.

Reference list format

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the data set in sentence case (Identifier; Version number) [Data set]. Publisher. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Okafor, N., & Lindqvist, S. (2023). Sleep and study habits of university students (SSH 5021; Version 2) [Data set]. Westbrook Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.1234/ssh5021.v2

• Author. The person or group that created the data set.
• Year. The year the version you used was published.
• Title. Italic, in sentence case.
• Identifier and version. In parentheses, not italic. The repository’s identifier for the data set, then the version, separated by a semicolon. Leave out whatever the repository doesn’t give.
• Description. [Data set] in square brackets. APA lets you adapt it, for example [Data set and code book].
• Publisher. The repository or organization that makes it available.
• DOI or URL. If there is a DOI, write it as a link starting with https://doi.org/.

In-text citation

Use the author and year: (Okafor & Lindqvist, 2023).

When the data came from a publication

APA’s page says that if you are using data from elsewhere that first appeared in a publication, you cite that publication. Read APA’s data set page for the details before you decide.

Check before you submit

• Use the right version. Repositories release new versions. Cite the one you downloaded.
• Copy the identifier and DOI exactly as the repository shows them.
• An unpublished data set that isn’t online has its own treatment. See APA’s blog post on citing unpublished works.