The Center for Data and Bioinformation Services (CDABS) is the University of Maryland Health Sciences and Human Services Library hub for data and bioinformation learning, services, resources, and communication.

This week, we will get to know ICPSR, the world’s largest collection of digital social science data.

Finding Data

ICPSR data covers a wide range of topics that are of interest to health sciences researchers including demography, education, child care, health care, crime, minority populations, aging, terrorism, substance abuse, mental health, public policy, sociology, political science, economics, international relations and more. If you need some data for secondary research or instruction – this is a great place to go!

All University of Maryland Baltimore staff, students, and faculty have access to the extensive ICPSR data holdings for free! Get started by browsing their themed collections, or comparing variables of interest across datasets. See how others have used ICPSR data through their extensive bibliography.

Sharing Data

ICPSR is also an excellent place for sharing your own research data. There is no cost associated with depositing data, and since ICPSR has an experienced team of curators, you can be sure your data is in good hands. Another major benefit is that ICPSR can even handle sensitive data with options like secure downloads, virtual enclaves, and embargoed publishing.

Summer Program

Registration is now open for ICPSR’s long-running and well-respected Summer Program in Quantitative Methods. This program (entirely virtual this year) offers a mix of intensive four-week sessions, shorter workshops, and lectures series throughout the summer on topics such as research design, statistics, data analysis, and social science methodology. Courses are for beginning or advanced students of quantitative methods. The program attracts university faculty and researchers, graduate students, and nonacademic research scientists. As members of ICPSR, the UMB community receives a significant discount on tuition. There are also a number of scholarships available to help defray costs even further. The application deadline for all ICPSR scholarships is Monday, March 29, 2021. Registration closes 72 hours before the start of workshops and courses.

Questions? Contact: Amy Yarnell, Data Services Librarian and Jean-Paul Courneya, Bioinformationist at data@hshsl.umaryland.edu.

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