Library Guides: Political Science: Statistics and Data

Tools for locating data

Data-Planet This link opens in a new window
Use this to both find quick downloadble data and to identify the data set with more variables.
Online service that enables researchers to build statistical tables and charts from multiple sources in a single interface. Data includes a wide range of social and demographic data both from the US and international sources.
Data Citation Index This link opens in a new window
The Data Citation Index on the Web of Science™ platform provides a single point of access to quality research data from repositories across disciplines and around the world.
The Data Citation Index on the Web of Science™ platform provides a single point of access to quality research data from repositories across disciplines and around the world.Through linked content and summary information, this data is displayed within the broader context of the scholarly research, enabling users to gain perspective that is lost when data sets or repositories are viewed in isolation. These connections allow researchers to efficiently access an array of data across subjects and regions, providing a comprehensive picture of research output, to maximize research efforts and accurately assess importance.
ICPSR (Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research) This link opens in a new window
The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) is the world's largest archive of computerized social science data, You must register to download data
The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) is a membership-based, non-profit data archive located at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. It serves member colleges and universities in the United States and abroad by providing: Access to the world's largest archive of computerized social science data, Training facilities for the study of quantitative social analysis techniques, Resources for social scientists using advanced computer technologies. PSU users get access to ICPSR by creating an individual account using their PSU e-mail ID. This is what identifies them as a PSU affiliate. We do not have IP access. Go to: http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/ICPSR/index.jsp - See login at top left. Note: occasionally you will need to login using a computer on campus to validate that you are still a PSU affiliate.

Registry of Research Data Repositories
detailed descriptions of more than 2600 repositories.
Open Access Directory: Data Repositories
Direct link to Social Science section
datacatalogs.org
A Comprehensive List of Open Data Portals from Around the World
Harvard Dataverse Network
Macrodata Guide
A starting point for researchers and students looking for data. Provids an overview of extant data sources as well as instant insight to their quality and comparability. From the Norwegian Social Science Data Services Network

U.S. Data

The Libraries provide access to many sources of data and statistics. Here are a few starting points.

US Data and Statistics

Compendium

Historical Statistics of the United States This link opens in a new window
More InfoProvides a comprehensive compendium of statistics from over 1,000 sources recording every aspect of the history of the United States from demographics to voting patterns
Provides a comprehensive compendium of statistics from over 1,000 sources recording every aspect of the history of the United States from population to prices; from voting patterns to Vietnam veterans; from energy to education; from abortions to zinc and everything in between. Over 80 scholars have contributed their efforts and expertise to select, assemble, and document the data, to write the introductory essays, and to analyze the material.

Federal Portal to U.S. Data and Statistics
The best links to government data sources

Congress and Elections

CQ Voting and Elections Collection This link opens in a new window
Allows you to analyze voting patterns in elections
Expert analysis, demographics, and data of elections-realted information.
CQ Congress Collection This link opens in a new window
Analyze voting patterns in congress.
CQ Congress Collection is a dynamic research and reference tool allowing historical analysis of members of Congress, their legislative voting behavior, interest groups, and their interactions in crafting public policy.

Census Data

American FactFinder
Social and Demographic statistics taken from Census Bureau surveys.
Census Bureau website
The Census Bureau does much more than the decennial population census. Explore their website for a wide range of data.

State legislative Data

OpenStates
Track bills, review upcoming legislation, and see how your local representatives are voting in your state
Google Crowd Counting Consortium
Crowd data from the U.S.
Political Protest Movement Data
Collection of data sources
Supreme Court Database
The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court
Elections and Voting Data Guide
Guide from Princeton
PA Full Voter Export
As provided by 25 Pa.C.S. Section 1404(b)(1) (relating to Public Information Lists), as well as the SURE Regulations at 4 Pa. Code Section 184.14(b) (relating to Public Information Lists), the Department of State will provide the Full Voter Export List to requestors.
Economic Data from the St. Louis FED
FRED is an online database consisting of hundreds of thousands of economic data time series from scores of national, international, public, and private sources.

International Data and Statistics

A few key resources with international data to get you started.

CountryData Online This link opens in a new window
Political, economic, financial, and social data for over 140 countries
CountryData offers political, economic, financial, and social data for over 140 countries, in most cases back to 1984. CountryData is also the only source for current and historical risk ratings developed from the International Country Risk Guide and Political Risk Services rating systems conducted by PRS Group. Note: the tabs International Country Risk Guide (ICRG) and Political Risk Services (PRS) provide access to information regarding methodology, but do not provide access to the actual products. Access to the CountryData and the Political Risk Yearbook are available through the University Libraries A-Z list.
OECD iLibrary This link opens in a new window
This database has a wide range of high quality data on the developed countries and some data on the developing countries, including development aid.
Full-text book and serial publications from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Also includes many of the data sets available from the organization.

OECD Better Life Index
Measures quality of life in countries around the world over numerous indicators.
World Databank
A wide range of country level data from the World Bank
IMF Data
Economic and financial data from the International Monetary Fund

UN Comtrade This link opens in a new window
Commodity trade data for all available countries and areas since 1962. Currently, it contains almost 700 millions records.
Comtrade provides detailed import and export statistics in goods and services reported by statistical authorities of close to 200 countries/areas since 1962. Unlimited batch, bulk, and API downloads are available.
United Nations Statistical Database This link opens in a new window
A list of the statistics from the UN family of agencies

Eurostat
Main portal for European Union Statistics
OffSats
Links to official statistical sites from governments around the world

Polls and Polling

Health Poll Database This link opens in a new window
One of the world's leading archives of social science data, specializing in data from surveys of public opinion back to the 1930s.
Covers eighty years of national public opinion polling from health-related U.S. survey questions. Searchable questions and results, demographic crosstabs, and trends are available on every topic related to health, from social determinants and influences on health to insurance, costs and health-care utilization.
Roper iPoll This link opens in a new window
Part of the Roper Center Archive, iPoll provides statistics (frequencies rates) from questions in public opinion polls from academic, commercial and media survey organizations since 1935. Cross-tabulations possible on some questions results.
A comprehensive source for US nationwide public opinion data from academic, commercial and media survey organizations such as ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, The Gallup Organization, Los Angeles Times, National Opinion Research Center, NBC News, New York Times, Princeton Survey Research Associates, the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland, USA Today and The Washington Post. iPOLL is organized at the question-level, providing the tools to sift through 350,000 questions asked on national public opinion surveys since 1935. Penn State users may need to register using their PSU email to create a user account and password to download data. To create an account select the login tab. When you log in make sure you select Pennsylvania State University as your affiliation.

Afrobarometer
National public attitude surveys on democracy and governance in Africa
Asian Barometer
You will need to apply for access to most of the data.
Eurobarometer [public opinion]
Web site of the Public Opinion Analysis sector of the European Commission.

Latinobarómetro This link opens in a new window
Polling data from across Latin America. Has some subnational data.
An annual public opinion survey that involves interviews in 18 Latin American countries, representing more than 400 million inhabitants. Topics covered include: Economy and International Trade; Integration and Trade Agreements; Political Democracy and Social and Political Institutions; Distribution of Wealth; Civic Culture; Social Capital and Participation; Environment; Gender and Discrimination; Current Topics

Pew Research Center
Non-partisan research center that tracks both domestic and international public opinion
Odum Institute Dataverse Network
A broad range of public opinion data including the Harris Poll. Particularly good for state level polls.
National Annenberg Election Survey
Examines a wide range of political attitudes about candidates, issues and the traits Americans want in a president. You must apply for access to the data sets.
World Values Survey
- Access to tables and graphs showing national or comparative survey results for selected countries to the waves of the World Values Survey, conducted 1981-2015

Political data

In addition to the more general data sources above, there are some data sets that focus primarily on topic such as politics, political institutions, and conflict. Here are a few places to start.

Integrated Network for Societal Conflict Research (INSCR)
Data from Center for Systemic Peace includes Political Regime Characteristics and Transitions, 1800-2014.
Comparative Agendas Project
Track policy outcomes across countries
SIPRI Databases
Correlates of War Project

University Libraries' Data Learning Center

The University Libraries' Research Services on 2nd Floor Paterno offers support to faculty, staff, and students working with data through its Data Learning Center.
Support includes:

Assistance locating data
assistance in using statistical software for data analysis
advice on research design, data collection, and data manipulation
advice on statistical methodology
assistance in using spatial software for data analysis
advice on spatial research methodology

Make an appointment for a consultation:

Statistical Consultant Booking Site
Send an email to directly to the Data Learning Center datalearning@psu.edu