Skip to Main Content
It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older. This website works best with modern browsers such as the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you continue with this browser, you may see unexpected results.

Datasets and Statistics

The guide links you to resources about datasets and statistics.

How to Cite Datasets in MLA Style

MLA (7th edition)
For a complete description of citation guidelines refere to the MLA Handbook for Writer's of Research Papers, 9th edition (2021).

Datasets

Since MLA has not developed a specific citation style for datasets, the general rules for citing a web document may be applied. For web publications, add date of access. The URL is optional so check with your professor to see if he/she wants you to include it.

Basic form:

Author Last Name, First Name. Title of data set. (Version). Publisher location: Publisher name, Date of publication. Medium of publication. Date accessed. doi/url of data

Example:

Pew Hispanic Center.  Changing channels and crisscrossing cultures: A survey of Latinos on the news media. (Data file and code book). Washington, DC: Pew Research Center, 2004. Web. 19 Sep 2011. <http://pewhispanic.org/datasets/signup.php?DatasetID=5>

How to Cite Statistics in MLA Style

MLA (7th edition)
For a complete description of citation guidelines refere to the MLA Handbook for Writer's of Research Papers, 9th edition (2021).

MLA does not provide specific information on how to cite a statistical table, but use this general format adapted from the rules for citing a work in an anthology, an article in a reference work, and guidelines for citing electronic materials.

Basic form:

Author. "Title of entry." Title of book. Edition. Ed. Editor's name(s). Place of publication: Publisher, Year. Page range. Medium of publication.

For web publications, add date of access. The URL is optional so check with your professor to see if he/she wants you to include it.

Example:

American Veterinary Medical Association. "Table 1204: Household Pet Ownership: 2006." Statistical Abstract of the United States. 129th ed. Ed. U.S. Census Bureau. Washington D.C.: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010. Web. 14 July 2010. <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/tables/10s1204.pdf>.