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ICPSR at VCU Libraries

What is ICPSR?

The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) maintains and provides access to a vast archive of social science data for research and instruction, and offers training in quantitative methods to facilitate effective data use.  Data for over 6000 studies are housed in the archive.  The VCU Libraries has an ICPSR Direct membership.  Faculty, staff, and students at VCU can download data, accompanying documentation, and publications freely.  Redistribution of data to users un-affiliated with VCU is not permitted. 

Data Vs. Statistics

The data that are in ICPSR's archive are for use in quantitative analyses.  There are no pre-prepared statistics available.  Users must have the ability to perform statistical analysis in order to work with the data. 

How to Access the ICPSR Archive

You may access the ICPSR through the VCU Libraries Databases A-Z List under I and search using ICPSR's interface.  Alternatively, you may search the ICPSR archive through the VCU Libraries Catalog using the advanced search interface (select format as ICPSR data).  When you have located a study of interest, click on the URL to be taken to the ICPSR Web site.  If you are off campus, you will be required to authenticate using EZproxy.  Prior to downloading, you will be prompted to create a MyData Account.  This account serves as a secondary method of membership authentication, and provides some personalization options.  You must use a valid VCU email address as your user ID (jdoe@vcu.edu or jdoe@mcvh-vcu.edu). 

Where to Learn More

If you are interested in learning more about ICPSR and how to incorporate data into research and instruction, please contact your appropriate official representative.  For the MCV campus and health-related data inquiries please contact, Irene Lubker, Research Librarian, based at Tompkins-McCaw Library.  For the Monroe Park Campus and social science-related data inquires please contact Bettina Peacemaker, Assistant Head for Research Services and Reference, based at Cabell Library.