Different research projects require different types of datasets. Visit the Data Sources tab for a list organized by subject area. While looking for a dataset for your research, keep in mind access issues that might delay your progress:

• Does the data contain identifiable information?
• Are you required to apply for access to the database?
• Does the site hosting the dataset require that you create an account in order to gain access?

Sometimes the data that you want may not be available due to confidentiality. For example, you might be interested in exploring the relationship between college students' risky behavior and mental health. However, due to human subjects protection, those type of data are not readily available except to members of an approved reasearch time. It also takes time to remove any personally identifiable information from those data, which means years may have passed from the original data collection until data release. 

While IRB restrictions may prevent you from sharing your data as is, you may be able to share an anonymized version of the data. Sharing your anonymized data with your codebook, scripts, metadata, and other information would allow other researchers to replicate your study. The UNT Libraries can help you through this process, see information on our research data management guide.

The UNT Libraries mails items from the Libraries' physical collections at no charge to students who live outside Denton and are taking at least one online class. Learn about this and more in our Guide for Distance Learners.