Cite a dataset in Harvard
Datasets are cited so the reader can locate the exact version you used, which is why Harvard (Cite Them Right 12) 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.
Harvard 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.
Worked example
Harvard · datasetA real dataset formatted using the Harvard rules above.
Studies, NASA Goddard Institute for Space (2024) Global temperature anomalies, 1880-2024 [Data set]. [Online] Zenodo. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1234567 (accessed January 15, 2025).
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