LibGuides: American Community Survey: Citing the ACS

APA Citation

APA 6th:

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 6th Edition includes guidance for citing datasets (p. 210-211).

Also, the APA blog includes guidance about citing data sets in your reference list and in-text.

The following database, APA Style CENTRAL, has examples of how to cite datasets. Click the learn tab and search for data.

Academic Writer (formerly APA Style CENTRAL) This link opens in a new window Provides the resources necessary to learn, research, write, and publish in APA Style.

APA Data Citation: General Rules

General Rules:

Italicize the title of the data set.

After the title of the data set identify the type of source ex: [Data file and code book].

If the data set has a doi then list the doi, but if it doesn't then list the url where you retrieved the data.

ACS Example Citation

U.S. Census Bureau. (2012). 2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-year Public Use Microdata Samples [SAS Data file]. Retrieved from https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/searchresults.xhtml?refresh=t