Embedded Files
Secondary Data Resources
Secondary Data Resources
The following is a list of data sets that social workers might find interesting and helpful. Click on the name of the data set to be linked to additional information.
As you may know many universities and institutions collect and maintain large sets of data that are a treasure trove for inquiry in the social sciences. Especially in the United States, much of these data are deidentified for public use and can be directly downloaded, others are partially or fully restricted and require a bit more work to access. International data, especially from the EU, is also more restricted and may require that you file a research plan or receive special permissions before being granted access.
The American Community Survey (ACS) is an ongoing data set collected on the United States that is used to track employment, education, veterans, income, housing costs and many other important factors that can influence community well-being. It is used to generate the data for QuickFacts and is one of the most widely used data sets for exploring national, community, and local trends in the United States.
This cross-sectional survey is collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to assess adult U.S. residents regarding risk behaviors and preventative health practices. Although the CDC frames the national questions that are asked on the BRFSS, individuals States can add their own modules and questions as needed.
The ICPSR is an international consortium and data repository hosted by the University of Michigan that provides access to over 500,000 data sets. They house the largest and most comprehensive curriculum on research design, statistics, and data analysis for the social sciences. The ICPSR can be accessed at https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/.
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. Data and services available free of charge. IPUMS can be accessed at https://www.ipums.org/.
Collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the National Health Interview Survey collects data on a wide range of health topics from the United States population.
Collected by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the NHANES uses interviews, surveys, and health examinations to assess the health and nutritional well-being of adults and children in the United States.
This complex samples design survey measures employment, earnings, work history, income, and social welfare participation in the United States. Particularly strong for conducting longitudinal analyses, poverty, and economic well-being.
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