Citing SDDT Content
Citation Guidance
Citing Our Data
Proper citation of data is essential to the integrity of research and acknowledges the significant effort that goes into collecting, processing, and maintaining high-quality datasets. When you use data from this site, we ask that you cite it appropriately to give credit to those who contributed to its creation.
Where to Find Citation Information
Citation details are available in two convenient places. Each file contains recommended citation information, such as its contact, year(s), agency or organization, and version history, accessible directly on the dataset's page. When you download a file from this site, a citation file is also included in the download package, containing the full citation details formatted and ready to use in your work.
Why Citing Data Matters
Referencing data or file sources in a publication or project serves several important purposes. First and foremost, citations identify the individuals, teams, and organizations that authored the work or collected and analyzed the data, recognizing the time, expertise, and resources that went into producing a reliable dataset.
Proper attribution also supports reproducibility. Citing a specific dataset or document with a version, if applicable, allows other researchers to locate the exact data or document you used, enabling them to verify your findings or build upon your work with confidence. More broadly, citations create a transparent record of where information originated, strengthening the credibility of your own analysis and conclusions.
Finally, when data contributors see their work cited and recognized, it encourages continued investment in open, publicly available datasets that benefit the broader research community.
How to Cite
Use the citation information found in the Data Card or the citation file included with your download. Citations typically include the dataset or document name, authors or contributing organization, publication or release date, version number, and a URL or DOI for the source. If you have questions about how to cite a specific dataset, please contact us at SDDT@PSMFC.org.