Finding and Evaluating Data

Finding the right dataset can be challenging. Here are some things to consider:

1. The dataset you want may not exist.
   1. You may need to create a dataset yourself or combine various datasets together.
2. The dataset you want may not be free.
   1. Many datasets are proprietary and access must be purchased. You mayt be able to get access to it through your department, through funds from a research grant, or through your academic library. You can ask your research group, advisor, department, and librarian for advice and help. They may also be able to help you find other datasets relevant to your project.
3. The dataset you want might not be available for you to use due to other reasons.
   1. Some datasets belong to groups who limit the use of the data. This may be due to the nature of the data or privacy issues. In some cases, you may be able to attain access if you explain how you will use the data and if you are willing to abide by the owners' use restrictions.
   2. Some datasets have been removed from government websites. These datasets may be recoverable due to efforts to store this data. However, in some cases, the datasets will not be updated due to current government policies. Please see the Finding Removed Data section of this guide for more information.
4. The dataset you want might need significant cleaning or reformatting.
   1. You can contact the Center for Research Data and Digital Scholarship (CRDDS) at CU Boulder to get help cleaning your data.
5. The dataset you want might be too big for your hardware or require the use of specific hardware.
   1. For help, consult with your advisor, department, the Center for Research Data and Digital Scholarship (CRDDS) or Research Computing at CU Boulder.