Work with Secondary Data

Working with data is an essential component of data literacy, which involves the ability to find, evaluate, interpret, and communicate data effectively. This guide focuses on secondary data, which is the information collected or produced by others that can be reused for new analysis or research.

If you are working with data you have collected yourself, check out Research Data Management (RDM) for guidance and best practices.

Find Dataset

Finding and using datasets from authorized and reputable sources is key to ensure data quality, reliability, and ethical use. These sources include government agencies, academic databases and institutions, and licensed data providers, all of which offer well-documented datasets that comply with legal, privacy, and research standards.

Check the Data Resource Search Tool to explore authorized data sources relevant to your research and learning topics.

Terms of Use & Copyright

Before using a dataset, you will need to review the terms of use and copyright status of the dataset. These terms outline how the data can be accessed, used, shared, and cited. Some datasets are openly licensed for public use, while others may have restrictions that limit commercial use, redistribution, or modification. Always check for licensing information (e.g., Creative Commons or specific institutional terms) to ensure your use complies with legal and ethical standards. When in doubt, contact the data provider or repository for clarification.

Tools & Tutorials

Cite Data

Citing research data, thought not always a conventional practice, is increasingly important in scholarly work. It enhances data discoverability, gives proper credit to data creators, supports transparency, and promotes reproducibility and long-term reuse. Many journals and publishers now require data citation as part of their open data policies.

See the list of journals with open data policies here.

General Rules

While citation formats may vary by style guide or discipline, the elements below are generally required for standard data citations:

  • Author(s) – Individual(s) or organization responsible for the data
  • Title – Full title of the dataset
  • Year of Publication – When the dataset was published or released
  • Publisher/Repository – Where the data is hosted (e.g., ICPSR, Dryad, government agency)
  • Version – If available
  • Persistent Identifier – Such as a DOI or a stable URL

 

Examples

APA

Watson, J. C. E., & Morris, M. J. (2023). Modern South Arabian Languages (MSAL) bibliography (Version 10). Borealis. https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/DKFOWU

APA (with optional elements)

Watson, J. C. E., & Morris, M. J. (2023). Modern South Arabian Languages (MSAL) bibliography (Version 10) [PDF document]. London: School of Oriental and African Studies [distributor]. Borealis. https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/DKFOWU

Chicago 17th

Watson, Janet C. E., and M. J. Morris. Modern South Arabian Languages (MSAL) Bibliography. Version 10. Borealis, 2023. https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/DKFOWU.

Chicago 17th (with optional elements)

Watson, Janet C. E., and M. J. Morris. Modern South Arabian Languages (MSAL) Bibliography. Version 10. PDF document. London: School of Oriental and African Studies [distributor], 2023. Borealis. https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/DKFOWU.

MLA

Watson, Janet C. E., and M. J. Morris. Modern South Arabian Languages (MSAL) Bibliography. Version 10, Borealis, 2023, https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/DKFOWU.

MLA (with optional elements)

Watson, Janet C. E., and M. J. Morris. Modern South Arabian Languages (MSAL) Bibliography. Version 10, PDF document, School of Oriental and African Studies [distributor], 2023, Borealis, https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/DKFOWU.

Learning Resources

  • Citing Data (2020) by ICPSR from the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan
  • How to Cite Data by Hailey Mooney from Michigan State University, includes APA, MLA, Chicago styles.
  • GB/T 7714–2015 (Information and Documentation – Guidelines for Bibliographic References and Citations to Information Resources) is the Chinese National Standard for bibliographic references and citation rules.

DKU Support

For data-related support, contact the Data and Visualization Librarian, Siti Lei (siti.lei@dukekunshan.edu.cn).