example 1: Is there a relationship between age/race/education level and voter turnout?
example 2: Is there a relationship between concealed carry policy and gun crime?
I. Demographics and Population
State population totals · population density · population of selected age groups (under 5 years old, 5–17 years old, 18–24 years old, etc.) · female population · male population · religion · race and ethnicity · foreign-born population · immigration policy
II. Economic and Fiscal Policy
Personal income · state minimum wage · per capita income · state consumer price index · gross state product · total state debt · total state revenue · total state expenditures · budget surplus estimates · total debt outstanding as percent of GDP · total revenue outstanding as percent of GDP · state tax capacity · state assets · state liabilities · fiscal condition index · tax credits · income and sales tax rates · women’s earnings as a percentage of men’s earnings · unemployment rate · median household income · lottery ticket sales · poverty rate · AFDC/TANF recipients · foodstamps/SNAP recipients · welfare spending
III. Government
State term limits · legislative session length · procedures for administrative regulations · previous governors and their experience · party of governor · female elected officials · number of local governments · state chamber ideological measures (medians, distance between party medians in each chamber, party heterogeneity, etc.) · legislative seats held by each party · state legislative professionalism · state high court professionalism · corruption convictions · year of statehood · various “freedom” indices: economic freedom, personal freedom, gun control freedom, alcohol freedom, civil liberties freedom, labor market freedom, etc. · membership in interstate compacts
IV. Elections
Voter ID and registration requirements · voting-eligible population turnout rate · election years · proportion of democratic state representatives and senators · proportion of two-party vote for Democratic gubernatorial candidate · measures of state electoral competitiveness · campaign finance regulations · interest groups by sector
V. Policy Scores and Public Opinion
Mean liberalism scores (economic and social) · state policy liberalism scores · policy innovativeness scores · ideology and party identification scores · policy mood · political knowledge · social capital
VI. Criminal Justice and the Legal System
Domestic violence laws · treatment of inmates · prohibition of harassment/stalking · procedures for and resolution of private disputes and civil cases · DNA testing · identity theft · death penalty reform · motor vehicle theft rate · property crime rate · violent crime rate · gun background checks · marriage license requirements · child custody and child support laws · no-fault divorce
VII. Education
College placement exams · home-schooling policies · teacher certification · regulation of private schools · state education spending · percent of state population with a high school diploma · average school attendance rate · percent dropout rate · instruction expenses per student · pupil to teacher ratio · average tuition rates · fourth grade math and reading scores
VIII. Healthcare and Health Insurance
Rights for the terminally ill · health insurance benefit mandates · health insurance mandated coverage for dependents · newborn screening · coverage for seniors’ prescription drugs · total state population with government insurance · health spending per capita · infant mortality rate · Medicaid enrollment
IX. Welfare Policy
State adoption of Medicaid program · CHIP eligibility levels · AFDC benefits for average family · TANF eligibility and benefits
X. Rights and Anti-Discrimination Protections
Law prohibiting hiring discrimination on the basis of gender · Equal Rights Amendment ratified · abortion and contraception policies (access, insurance coverage, parental consent, TRAP laws, fetal personhood, etc.) · laws banning hate crimes · same-sex marriage · laws prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations · fair housing · affirmative action ban
XI. Environment
Environmental building standards · tax credits for renewable energy · bottle bill · e-waste recycling program · cap on greenhouse gas emissions · endangered species regulations · commercial sector energy consumption · residential sector energy price · total CO2 emissions
XII. Drug and Alcohol Policy
Punishment for DUIs · restrictions on alcohol sales · smoking bans · medical marijuana permitted · cigarette taxes · registration of beer kegs · zero-tolerance laws for underage drinking · Internet gambling · casinos allowed · state lottery
XIII. Gun Control
Concealed carry laws · assault weapons ban · background checks · waiting period for gun purchases · child-access prevention laws · mandatory reporting of firearm thefts
XIV. Labor
State minimum wage rate · fair employment laws · workers’ compensation · unemployment compensation · right-to-work law · short-term disability insurance program
XV. Transportation
Seatbelt laws · motorcycle and bicycle helmet laws · blood-alcohol-content laws for drivers · uninsured/underinsured coverage required · ban on handheld cellphones for all drivers · driver’s license renewal cycle
XVI. Regulatory Policy
Licensing requirements for various occupations · estate planning and administration, wills, trusts · abandonment of property · regulation of mortgages and leases · eminent domain · sale of fireworks permitted · lemon laws · consumer protections · regulation of sales and transactions/transfers
ICPSR Search
Searches one of the largest dataset repositories in the world. Be sure to filter to public availability to make sure you get data you can download.
 |
|
Tips
Useful Filters
|
Data.gov
Most datasets come from a government organization of some kind. This searches through those that are open to public use.
U.S. Census demographics
Starting point for any kind of people demographic: economic, income, poverty, housing, race, population, age, education, etc. Can be adjusted for national, state, or local areas.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Employment, unemployment, wages, prices, consumer spending, etc.
National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD)
Searches the repository of a multitude of criminal justice datasets. After a search, be sure to limit results to "public use" to get those you can freely download.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ data)
Health, health costs, access to health, quality of care, insurance, etc.
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Major repository of criminal justice data. Crime, corrections, recidivism, victims of crime, sentencing, etc.
Texas Academic Performance Reports
Information on the performance of students in each school and district in Texas every year. Data is at the state, region, district, or campus level. Inlcudes students demographics, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, performance on state tests, etc. Choose year then look for TAPR Download link.
IPPSR
Michigan State's repository of public policy datasets. Arranged by general subjects.