1. Define the type of data you need
Consider what/who is being measured, where is it collected, when, and how often
2. Determine who collects the type of data you are looking for
Think of who has a stake in collecting this data. Also consider who the audience of the data might be. This will help you determine where the data is likely published and how accessible the data is.
3. Start searching for data
Again, keep in mind who collects the data and what this means for where it is located.
This is a good strategy if you are not sure what types of variables exist or what data would be relevant for your project
This guide provides several links to data sources by topic. These links are by no mean exhaustive, but can be a good place to start and can help you get a sense of who are some of the major collectors of data in your topic area.
This can be a good strategy if you have a sense of who is a major source of the sort of data you are seeking.
Another source of data are the datasets used by scholars in their research. By searching through existing literature, you can get your hands on a dataset. You might also browse a data repository to see if someone has archived the data from their research
To Search for Pre-Existing Literature