Evidence Synthesis
Cite the Dataset Version Used for an Analysis
Identify the release you actually used
Open the dataset landing page and record the displayed version, DOI, release date, and file list. Look for links between a collection or concept record and individual releases. DataCite explains that stewards may update metadata for a minor change or assign a new DOI for a major change. The DOI alone therefore may leave uncertainty about which files were downloaded.
Compare the local file names and download time with the release history. Inspect the change note to determine whether a later release corrects measurements, adds observations, or edits descriptive metadata. Cite the specific release supporting the analysis and preserve a local manifest alongside the analysis inputs.
Trace a hypothetical change
A first release contains 120 observations. A later release adds eight and corrects values in three of the original records. It contains 128 observations, with 11 records affected relative to the earlier version. Checking only the increase in row count would detect the eight additions while overlooking all three corrections.
If the analysis switches releases, compare record keys and changed variables before recomputing results. Keep an explicit crosswalk from the earlier release to the new one, including deleted or superseded entries where applicable. The final methods section should identify the version analyzed and when it was retrieved.
Related worksheet: Tagged release identity worksheet.
Source checked on 5 November 2026.