Research Guides: *Social Science Data Resources: Sexuality

Key Resources

Remember to check the key resources:

ICPSR Data Archive This link opens in a new window
Access to thousands of social science datasets for research and instruction. A first place to start in looking for social science data for secondary analysis.
Roper Center For Public Opinion Research This link opens in a new window
one of the world's leading archives of social science data, specializing in data from surveys of public opinion.

US Decennial Censuses
data.census.gov
Data.census.gov is the new platform to access data and digital content from the U.S. Census Bureau and has been designed to simplify access to the Bureau’s many data products. This chart shows data available. The 2020 Census data will be released on this site.
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The American FactFinder website will cease March 2020. No new data has been posted since June 2019.

Make an Appointment

Staff in the University Libraries can assist you with:

what data is available
where to find software for analysis
directing you to self-paced software learning resources

NUIT Research Computing provides support for a variety of software and analytic methods.

Sexuality

Demographic and Health Surveys
This project is implemented by Macro International and funded by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). These country surveys, covering Central and South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, are available for direct downloading. Datasets include information on family planning, maternal and child health, child survival, AIDS, educational attainment, and household composition and characteristics. Users must register and receive a password to download.
General Social Survey
General Social Survey (GSS) is a long running survey of social, cultural and political indicators. In addition to the GSS, topic modules include computer and Internet, racial and ethnic prejudice, and child mental-health stigma. The GSS has participated since 1985 in the International Social Survey Program.
GSS Data Explorer
Explore GSS data gathered 1972-present without using statistical analysis software. Focus on trends within the data.
Growth of American Families, 1955-1960
Women were asked questions about fertility and contraception, including contraceptive use and pregnancy histories, opinions on childbearing and childrearing, expectation of further children, etc. Background information such as marital history, education, income, religion, social characteristics, and place of residence was also collected.
National Fertility Survey, 1965-1975
Women were asked questions about fertility and contraception, including contraceptive use and pregnancy histories, opinions on childbearing and childrearing, desired family size, future childbearing intentions and expectation of further children.
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Questions about coital frequency at the time of interview were asked. Marital history, some labor force participation history, and background information such as education, income, religion, social characteristics, and place of residence was also collected.
National Survey of Family Growth
National Survey of Family Growth (1973, 1976, 1982, 1988, 1995)
Women were asked questions about fertility and contraception, including contraceptive use and pregnancy histories, desired family size, and expectation of further children.The survey also reports background information about the respondent and her husband, such as education, religion, ethnic origin, occupation, and earnings.
Population Research Center at NORC and The University of Chicago
This site makes available data from some of the Population Research Center's projects. Interesting datasets include the National Health and Social Life Survey, the Chicago Health and Social Life Survey, and the Chinese Health and Family Life Survey. These surveys profile sexual behavior, demography and health.