Guidance on the Use of Public Use Data Sets
Introduction to Public Use Datasets
All “public-use” de-identified data sets that are accessible from the sources listed below have been deemed acceptable for use in research without the need for obtaining FIU IRB approval. A public-use dataset is considered as a de-identified dataset that can be freely downloaded (or may require a short application to request access to the data), but does not require for FIU to enter into a formal written agreement with the provider of the data.
Important: Please note that some of these sources may also offer “restricted-use” and/or “limited-use” datasets. The use of restricted use or limited use datasets still requires FIU IRB approval and the agreements associated with the use of those datasets must be routed through ORED via the Agreement Request Form. Please contact the FIU Office of Research Integrity if you have any questions.
Public Use Datasets that Do Not Require IRB Approval
- American National Election Studies (ANES)
- Center for Disease Control (CDC) – Public datasets (as defined above) including, but not limited to:
- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
- Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Medicare Claim data
- Infant Feeding Practices Study II and Its Year Six Follow-Up
- Longitudinal Studies of Aging
- National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)
- National Center for Health Statistics
- Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES)
- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (public data only)
- National Health Interview Survey
- National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS)
- National Hospital Care Survey
- National Immunization Survey
- National Mortality Followback Survey (NMFA) 1993
- National Nursing Home Survey
- National Youth Tobacco Survey
- National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (public version)
- National Survey of Children’s Health (public version)
- National Survey of Family Growth
- National Vital Statistics System
- Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System
- State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey (SLAITS)
- Youth Risk Behavioral Survey Study (YRBSS) (federal level only)
- Data Resource Center for Child & Adolescent Health
- General Social Survey
- Health & Retirement Survey (HRS)
- HRSA National Health Center Data
- Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR)
- Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey
- National Addiction & HIV Data Archive Program – Public datasets (as defined above) including, but not limited to:
- National Cancer Institute – Public datasets (as defined above) including, but not limited to:
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) – Public datasets (as defined above) including, but not limited to:
- National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS)
- National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS)
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – Public datasets (as defined above) including, but not limited to:
- U.S. Census Bureau
- USDA Food and Nutrition Database
