Many people wonder why it's important to cite data. The short answer is that it's a common courtesy to acknowledge the work done by others - and to avoid plagiarism!
The longer answer is that people will want to check your work, and maybe use the data in their own visualizations. Visualizing data is tricky, and there are many ways that visualizations may misrepresent the data. Those who read your work with a critical eye will want to make sure that your visualization accurately depicts what the data says. To ensure that your work is reviewed, taken seriously, and shared, be sure to include your data source.
As with any other resource, each citation standard has a different format for citing data, though not all citation styles have a standardized format. Be sure to check with your citation guide (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc) to ensure you have the correct format.
In general, you will likely need the following information:
For more information on what is included in the above, and for examples, please visit the University of Michigan guide on citing data.
If your citation style does not have a standard data citation format, include the information listed above. This should ensure that the data can be found by those reviewing your visualization.
Below are several data citation examples (created by the University of Michigan Libraries). These are the most used citation styles, but make sure to look up the rules for your specific style.
Minimum requirements based on instructions and example for dataset reference:
Milberger, S. (2002). Evaluation of violence against women with physical disabilities in Michigan, 2000-2001 (ICPSR version) [data file and codebook]. doi:10.3886/ICPSR03414
With optional elements:
Milberger, S. (2002). Evaluation of violence against women with physical disabilities in Michigan, 2000-2001 (ICPSR version) [data file and codebook]. Detroit: Wayne State University [producer]. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor]. doi:10.3886/ICPSR03414
Minimum requirements based on instructions and examples for books and web publications:
Milberger, Sharon. Evaluation of Violence Against Women With Physical Disabilities in Michigan, 2000-2001. ICPSR version. Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research, 2002. Web. 19 May 2011.
With optional elements:
Milberger, Sharon. Evaluation of Violence Against Women With Physical Disabilities in Michigan, 2000-2001. ICPSR version. Detroit: Wayne State U [producer]. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2002. Web. 19 May 2011. doi:10.3886/ICPSR03414
Bibliography style (based on documentation for books):
Milberger, Sharon. Evaluation of Violence Against Women With Physical Disabilities in Michigan, 2000-2001. ICPSR version. Detroit: Wayne State University, 2002. Distributed by Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research, 2002. doi:10.3886/ICPSR03414.
Author-Date style:
Milberger, Sharon. 2002. Evaluation of Violence Against Women With Physical Disabilities in Michigan, 2000-2001. ICPSR version. Detroit: Wayne State University. Distributed by Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research. doi:10.3886/ICPSR03414.
