If you are reusing data collected by other researchers, follow these two rules to be a courteous consumer of that data.
1. Look at the license on the dataset - The license will tell you what you can (and can't) do with the data. Common licenses include a Creative Commons license or an Open Data Commons license. If the dataset has license, you should follow the terms of the license carefully. (Not all datasets have a license.)
Below are the icons used to denote the six different Creative Commons licenses. If you see one of these icons, this website will help you to understand how you can and can't re-use the data.
Sometimes the dataset's license is written in text (e.g., CC BY 4.0) rather than using the icon.
2. Cite the dataset - When reusing a dataset in a publication or presentation, give the complete citation for the dataset (as you would for a scholarly publication). See more information on the Citing Datasets page.
At a minimum, the citation should include:
