Cite a dataset in APA 7
Datasets are cited so the reader can locate the exact version you used, which is why APA 7 (2020) requires the publisher, the version or release date, and a persistent identifier like a DOI. The dataset title is italicized, and the format is noted in brackets.
APA 7 rules for a dataset
- Author is the dataset's creator or the publishing institution.
- Dataset title is italicized; specify the version or release date.
- Add [Data set] in square brackets after the title to indicate the format.
- Publisher is the repository hosting the data (e.g., Zenodo, Figshare, ICPSR).
- Include the DOI as a persistent identifier; URLs alone are not enough.
- Add [Data set] in square brackets after the title, then the repository.
Worked example
APA 7 · datasetA real dataset formatted using the APA 7 rules above.
Studies, N. G. I. F. S. (2024). Global temperature anomalies, 1880-2024 [Data set]. *Zenodo*. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1234567
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