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ICPSR

Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan
United States of America
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About

Launched: 1962
Record Updated: Jan 12, 2026
Archive information management system
Data management planning tool or service
Repository service
As a repository, ICPSR adheres to operational standards that demonstrate it is organizationally, procedurally, and technologically sound as a trustworthy data custodian. This page describes the processes and standards we take related to acquiring, enhancing, describing, preserving, and disseminating digital social science data.ICPSR processes are based on the Reference Model for an Open Archival Information System (OAIS), an ISO standard that provides the functional framework for sustaining digital objects in managed repositories through Ingest, Data Management, Archival Storage, and Access.
Research Organization Registry (Opens in new window)

Mission

ICPSR, one of the world’s largest archive of social and behavioral data, drives research and innovation as a global leader in data stewardship. By offering rich data resources and exceptional educational opportunities, ICPSR empowers current and future generations of researchers and scholars.

Key Achievements

The Research Data Ecosystem: a National Resource for Reproducible, Robust, and Transparent Social Science Research in the 21st Century, is a modernized data software platform built to support the entire research data lifecycle. Researchers can safely and securely access, connect, store, and manipulate data. RDE is funded by $38M from the U.S. National Science Foundation Mid-scale RI-2 Infrastructure Award (#1946932). ICPSR is a CoreTrustSeal core certified repository, with the latest recertification completed in 2024. DataLumos was established by ICPSR in 2016 as an archive for valuable government data resources. ICPSR has a long commitment to safekeeping and disseminating US government and other social science data. DataLumos accepts deposits of public data resources from the community and recommendations of public data resources that ICPSR itself might add to DataLumos.

Technical Attributes

Maintenance Status

Actively Maintained

Open API

In Progress

Open Data Statement

Implemented
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Open Product Roadmap

In Progress

Technical Attribute Statements

Programming Languages

  • html
  • java
  • python

Technology Readiness Level

  • Actual system proven in operational environment

Content Licensing

  • Creative commons licenses
  • Traditional copyright
Other:
ICPSR custom license

Standards

Metadata

  • Data Documentation Initiative Codebook
  • DataCite metadata schema
  • Dublin Core
  • JSON-LD
  • MARC XML
  • REST
  • RIS
  • Signposting

Persistent Identifier

  • ORCiD
  • Research Organization Registry
Other:
DOIs

Security

  • NIST SP 800-171 for the protection of controlled unclassified information

Preservation

  • OAIS

Metrics

Google Analytics

Integrations

  • COUNTER Code of Practice
  • Creative Commons Licenses
  • DataCite
  • Fedora
  • Research Organization Registry (ROR)

Community Engagement

Code of Conduct

Implemented
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Community Engagement

Implemented
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Community Statements

Community Engagement Activities

  • Annual meetings
  • Conference participation
  • Interest, working, user, or advisory groups
  • Mailing lists and discussion forums (including Slack)
  • Social media
  • Staff roles with responsibility for community engagement
  • User research
  • Volunteer or ambassador network
  • Webinars and training

Engagement with Values Frameworks

  • FAIR Guiding Principles for Scientific Data Management and Stewardship

Policies & Governance

Policies

Bylaws

Implemented
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Commitment to Equity & Inclusion

Implemented
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Privacy Policy

Implemented
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Web Accessibility Statement

Implemented
Applies to Solution
Applies to Website
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Governance Records

Implemented
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Governance Structure & Processes

Implemented
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Transparent Pricing and Cost Expectations

Implemented
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Policy Statements

Board Structure

  • Advisory board or steering committee

Community Governance

  • Formal

Additional Information

Organizational History

https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/sites/icpsr/about/history

Organizational Structure

Business or Ownership Model

Fiscal sponsorship (academic institution)

Full-time Staff

More than 20

Volunteers

More than 20

Current Affiliations

ICPSR is part of the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan.

Funding

Primary Funding Source

Institutional Funds, Federal Grants, Foundations

Financial Reporting Level

The University of MIchigan

Funding Needs

Funding for building and maintaining infrastructure, curation, metadata, long term preservation of data, sponsorship for summer program courses and attendees.
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