Publications-Related Archive
For over ten years, ICPSR has provided an online service called the Publication-Related Archive. Datasets in this collection are intended to include all data and information necessary to permit another researcher to replicate a corresponding published article, book, or dissertation. These replication datasets may also contribute to the building of synthetic cohorts, time series, or meta-analysis datasets, and they may prove useful for classroom instruction. Datasets in this category are distributed in exactly the same condition and format sent by the data contributor, and have not been examined in any way by the ICPSR staff.
A growing number of scholarly journals, book presses, and granting organizations are requiring authors (and graduate programs are requiring students) to indicate in their first footnote where their replication datasets are deposited. Depositing data with the ICPSR fulfills these requirements.
Authors are encouraged to deposit in the Publication-Related Archive all data, specialized computer programs, sets of computer program recodes, and extracts of existing data files used in the analysis along with the article itself. In addition, authors must submit an explanatory READ.ME file that describes what is included in sufficient technical and substantive detail to permit replication of findings. Among other things, this statement should explain how to reproduce the exact numerical results in the related publication, which should be correctly cited in the READ.ME file. The fact of deposit of the data with ICPSR should be noted in the related publication. ICPSR will review datasets submitted to this category for possible inclusion in the main archive; datasets selected for further processing in this review will contain original data not otherwise found in the ICPSR collection.
Once an author has submitted a replication dataset, the ICPSR will make it available as an open resource to the social science community, at no cost to the user. Additionally, ICPSR will announce submission of the dataset in its publications.
Protecting Confidentiality
Because ICPSR will not examine the detailed contents of datasets in this category, the burden for ensuring the confidentiality of research subjects falls entirely upon those submitting datasets. Authors should examine a dataset for the possibility that someone could use the data in a way that would infringe upon pledges of confidentiality given to respondents or reasonably assumed by them. ICPSR will not examine these datasets for that problem. It is the duty of the person submitting the dataset to protect the confidentiality of respondents.
The ICPSR Bylaws state that users of ICPSR-provided data agree that the data and other materials are to be used solely for statistical analysis and reporting of aggregated information, and not for investigation of specific individuals or organizations, except when identification is authorized in writing by ICPSR. Such uses of data must conform to widely-accepted standards of practice and legal restrictions that are intended to protect the confidentiality of research subjects. It is the obligation of the person depositing data with ICPSR to ensure that users of these data will not inadvertently violate these standards and legal restrictions.
Copyright
By submitting datasets to ICPSR, authors affirm that they have the right to publish this material. Note that publication of "raw data" taken from an almanac, yearbook, or similar data-oriented book may be prohibited under copyright law, while publication of statistical results is encouraged. Authors will sign a form attesting to their right to publish these data.
Depositing Data in the Publication-Related Archive
The ICPSR electronic deposit procedure facilitates the secure upload of files via a Web browser and establishes the terms and conditions of the data transfer.
The form also enables the depositor to describe the data collection being deposited. The depositor may designate others to access and add information to the form if desired. The form was designed to permit the depositor to save his/her progress through the form so that it does not need to be completed in one session.
The form is estimated to take about 15 to 30 minutes to complete. If you encounter any issues with the form or have questions, please contact deposit@icpsr.umich.edu.
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