Citation and Style Guide Help

This guide provides information on how to cite data examples in APA 7th edition.

Below is information on citing by information type: data sets, grey literature, infographics, and reports, and advice on how to cite some specific commonly accessed resources, including Chicago Health Atlas, PolicyMap, SimplyAnalytics, and Social Explorer. The APA Manual and APA Style and Grammar Guidelines webpage provide additional advice. 

Format:

Author, A. A., & Author, B.B. (Year). Title of data set (Version #) [Data set]. Publisher Name. DOI or URL.

Name of Group. (Range of years). Title of data set [Unpublished raw data]. [Description of untitled data set] [Unpublished raw data]. Source of Unpublished Data. Retrieved Month date, year, from URL.

Example:

D’Souza, A., & Wiseheart, M. (2018). Cognitive effects of music and dance training in children (ICPSR 37080; Version V1) [Data set]. ICPSR. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR37080.v1

National Center for Education Statistics. (2016). Fast Response Survey System (FRSS); Teachers’ use of educational technology in U.S. public schools, 2009 (ICPSR 35531; Version V3) [Data set and code book]. National Archive of Data on Arts and Culture. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR35531.v3

Source: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th Edition. Page 346.

Format:

Author, A. A., & Author, B.B. (Year). Title of grey literature [Description]. Publisher Name. DOI or URL

Author, A. A., & Author, B.B. (Year, Month Day). Title of grey literature [Description]. Publisher Name. DOI or URL

Name of Group. (Year). Title of grey literature [Description]. Publisher Name. DOI or URL

Name of Group. (Year, Month, Day). Title of grey literature [Description]. Publisher Name. DOI or URL.

Note: Omit Publisher Name when it is the same as Author or Name of Group. 

Example:

See APA 7^th Edition pages 329-330 for citation examples of specific grey literature types.

Source: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th Edition. Page 329-331.

Format:

Author, A. A., & Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work. [Infographic]. Publisher. URL.

Example:

Rossman, J., & Palmer, R. (2015). Sorting through our space junk [Infographic]. World Science Festival. https://www.worldsciencefestival.com/2015/11/space-junk-infographic/

Source: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th Edition. Page 346.

Format:

Author, A. A., & Author, B.B. (Year). Title of report. Publisher Name. DOI or URL

Author, A. A., & Author, B.B. (Year, Month Day). Title of report (Report No. 123). Publisher Name. DOI or URL

Name of Group. (Year). Title of report. Publisher Name. DOI or URL

Name of Group (Year, Month Day). Title of report (Report No. 123). Publisher Name. DOI or URL

Note: Omit Publisher Name when it is the same as Author or Name of Group. 

Example:

See APA 7^th Edition pages 329-330 for citation examples of specific report types.

Source: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th Edition. Page 329-331.

Format:

Title of map, dates. PolicyMap, permalink URL (based on data from; Accessed Day Month Year).

Example:

Availability of residential fiber to the end user (fiber optic) internet access in 2017. PolicyMap, https://plcy.mp/4NW2zSv (based on data from FCC Broadband Deployment Data; Accessed 29 September 2018).

Estimated percent of adults ever diagnosed with high blood pressure (hypertension) in 2017. PolicyMap, https://www.policymap.com/data/our-data-directory/#CDC%20Behavioral%20Risk%20Factor%20Surveillance%20System (based on data from PolicyMap and CDC BRFSS; Accessed 29 March 2020).

Source: https://uic.policymap.com/citations

Format:

SimplyAnalytics. (Year data was accessed). Title of Entry. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from SimplyAnalytics database.

Example:

SimplyAnaltyics (2025). Census 2016 Current Estimates Data. Retrieved February 17^th, 2025, from SimplyAnalytics database.

In-Text Citation: (SimplyAnalytics, 2025)

Source: https://simplyanalytics.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/204848816-How-do-I-cite-SimplyAnalytics-data-

Format (Report):

Data Table Name (Survey Year, Survey Name). In SocialExplorer.com. Rerieved Month Day, Year, from URL

Example (Report):

SE:T8. Age (Census 2010). In SocialExplorer.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018, from https://www.socialexploerer.com/tables/C2010/R11764616

Format (Map):

Title of Social Explorer Map [Map]. In SocialExplorer.com. (Survey Year, Survey Name) Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL

Example (Map):

Population Density (Per Sq. Mile) [Map]. In SocialExplorer.com. ACS 2016 (5-Year Estimates) Retrieved July 25, 2018, from https://www.socialexplorer.com/8e62e93dee/view

Source: https://www.socialexplorer.com/help/faq/general/how-do-i-cite-information-on-social-explorer