Indiana University is a proud member of the Kentucky Research Data Center (KRDC) consortium. The KRDC is part of the nationwide system of Federal Statistical Research Data Centers. Through the KRDC, located in Lexington, KY, Indiana University researchers are able to access restricted data from participating federal statistical agencies.
Available Data
U.S. Census Bureau Data
Several categories of restricted-use microdata are available from the U.S. Census Bureau. While many of these datasets have publicly-available versions, the restricted-use versions typically provide access to more detailed geographic information (generally to the block or census-tract levels for surveys), as well as less restrictive top-coding on other individual-level variables.
Restricted-use economic data includes microdata on business establishments and firms, including Economic Census Microdata, Business Register Microdata, Establishment and Firm Microdata, and Transactions Microdata. Datasets include the Longitudinal Business Database (LBD), the Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM), and the Longitudinal Firm Trade Transactions Database (LFTTD). The Census also has some recovered historical economic data.
Restricted-use demographic datasets provide microdata on individuals and households. Datasets include the Decennial Census, American Community Survey (ACS), American Housing Survey (AHS), Current Population Survey (CPS) supplements, National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and supplements, and the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) panels. The Census also has some recovered historical demographic data.
Longitudinal Employer–Household Dynamics (LEHD) Data combines microdata on firms and workers, drawn from different administrative sources, to create job level quarterly earnings history data, data on where workers live and work, and data on firm characteristics.
Measuring the Impacts of Research on Innovation, Competitiveness, and Science (UMETRICS) data, from the Innovation Measurement Initiative (IMI), provides microdata on research grants and projects, linked to Census Bureau data on employment and employers.
Data from Federal Partners
FSRDCs also make available data from several other Federal agencies. Some of these agencies charge additional fees to researchers. Read more about the data available through these partner agencies below.
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) produces data on health indicators, such as health insurance coverage, prevalence of health conditions, exposure to environmental chemicals, and infant mortality, as well as on the practice of medicine. Researchers can access restricted data, including restricted variables and geocodes, from a range of surveys:
- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
- National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
- National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG)
- National Vital Statistics System (NVSS)
- National Health Care Surveys, including the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS)
Many of these data have been linked to the National Death Index, claims data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and benefits from the Social Security Administration.
Please note that the NCHS requires additional fees for data access.
AHRQ makes restricted data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) available through the FSRDC system, through an AHRQ-Census Bureau Agreement. Restricted data include the Household Component-Insurance Component linked file, the Nursing Home Component, the Medical Provider Component, Two-Year, Two-Panel Files, Area Health Resources Files, and MEPS Link Files to NHIS.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) makes available restricted company-level data about foreign direct investment, the activities of multinational enterprises, and international trade in services.
Please note that the BEA has specific eligibility requirements for researchers, and researchers should also be aware of additional fees.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) makes restricted data on employment and unemployment, compensation and working conditions, and prices and living conditions available to researchers through the FSRDC system. These datasets include data from the National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth (NLS/NLSY) and the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illness (SOII).
Please note that the BLS requires additional fees for data access.
The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) provides statistical data on U.S. science and engineering. Restricted-use microdata from some NCSES surveys are available in FSRDCs.
Access Requirements and Process
KRDC is secure facility, and researchers wishing to use the facility must develop a project proposal, receive approval for the project, and undergo security clearance. The exact process varies by agency. Read more about the proposal process on the KRDC website. IU researchers can also reach out to Emily Meanwell, IU's representative on the KRDC Advisory Board, for more information.
There are no fees charged to IU researchers for using the KRDC, except for those additional fees assessed by some partner agencies their data products.