Data Resources
Data resources. Data resources are of increasing importance to the legal researcher. The following are selective listings of data resources useful for legal research organized into six broad topical areas as well as a selective listing of data repositories and portals:
- Business, Corporate Finance & Market Data Resources
- Census, Population & Demographic Data Resources
- Criminal Justice, Judicial Workload & Jury Verdicts Data Resources
- Economic, Monetary, Country & Regional Data Resources
- Government, Voting & Polling Data Resources
- Labor, Workplace, Health & Education Data Resources
- Selected Data Repositories & Portals
- Data Search Engine
Data Search Engine. Use the HLS Library Data Search Engine to locate data resources including datasets, empirical studies, working papers and other data-related information useful for your research. The HLSL Data Search Engine searches selected data sites including data repositories, portals and working paper collections from a broad range of law and law-related fields.
Help identifying, locating and using data resources. Expert help is available. Contact the Numeric Data Services data librarians for expert assistance in identifying, locating and using data resources in the social sciences. Contact Baker Library Research Assistance for help locating business-related data resources. Contact the Langdell reference desk, (617) 495-4516, for assistance with law and law-related data resources.
Numeric Data Services. Harvard College Library's Numeric Data Services (NDS) was created in 1998 to meet the growing demand for social science data services at Harvard. NDS works closely with the Harvard-MIT Data Center (HMDC) and other data units at Harvard to provide data collections and services to users throughout the University. NDS is part of the Social Sciences Program in the Harvard College Library. See the NDS and HMDC Consulting Services Policy for more information on the types and levels of assistance available. NDS Research Guides are available through the HCL listing of Guides for Identifying Sources of Information. Use the guides to locate the most authoritative and commonly used data resources in social science research.
Harvard Business School Baker Library. The collections of Harvard Business School's Baker Library cover most aspects of management including such specialties as accounting and control, agribusiness, banking, business and economic history, commerce, economic philosophy, finance, information technology, international business, management education, manufacturing, marketing, political economy, and transportation. Use the Baker Library listings of Databases and Research Guides to locate the most authoritative and commonly used data resources in business, economic and management research. Browse the Fast Answers FAQ for answers to specific research questions. Contact Baker Library Research Assistance for help with locating business-related data resources.
IQSS Dataverse Network. The IQSS Dataverse Network (DVN) is the principal repository of quantitative social science data at Harvard University. The DVN collections include data from the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), the Roper Center, the U.S. Census Bureau , the National Archives (NARA) and the Murray Research Archive. The DVN provides a complete open source, digital library system for the management, dissemination, exchange, and citation of ever-expanding types and quantities of virtual collections of quantitative data. (Harvard University ID and PIN required.)
Software for data extraction, manipulation and analysis. Numerous data resources provide raw or micro-level datasets which may require additional software for data extraction, manipulation and analysis. The HMDC Data Fellow offers assistance getting started with statistical software programs to the Harvard community as well as methodological consulting and general help working with data.
Data workstations. The HMDC maintains several state-of-the-art computer laboratories at the Center for Government and International Studies (CGIS) complex in the Knafel Building. The CGIS workstations offer a full array of statistical, GIS, office productivity and multimedia software.
Locate additional data resources. Locate additional data resources, including those in CD-ROM and print format, by:
- Searching Find E-Resources for data resources by selecting the keyword tab, then selecting Statistics and data from the Resource Type pull-down menu and clicking Go or further limiting your search by selecting a Subject and/or entering keywords in the Title, E-Resource Vendor or Any Word fields;
- Searching the HOLLIS Catalog using Expanded Search for data resources by entering terms such as data, databases, statistics, etc. in the Anywhere field and terms descriptive of your research in such fields as Author words, Title words, Subject words, etc.;
- Browsing a data repository or portal covering your area of research for data resources; and
- Browsing the Baker Library Research Guides and Numeric Data Services Research Guides for the most authoritative and commonly used data resources in various areas of business, economic and social sciences research.
Help. Please contact the Langdell reference desk, (617) 495-4516, located just off the reading room on the fourth floor of Langdell Hall with any questions.
Compiled and edited by Michael Jimenez.