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How to Cite Social Explorer AI Data

Updated

Citing data retrieved through Social Explorer AI is essential for transparency, reproducibility, and academic integrity. Every output from the AI is tied to an official data source, and proper citations ensure that your work accurately reflects the origin, methodology, and context of the statistics used. This guide explains how to cite Social Explorer AI in research papers, reports, institutional documents, and publications.

Each AI-generated result includes built-in source attribution that you can access directly from the interface. When viewing an AI answer, click Sources below the response to open a panel on the right side of the screen, where the complete citation information is displayed and can be copied or referenced.

Standard Citation Components

Every citation of SE AI results should include the following elements:

  • Survey name
  • Dataset year
  • Table name and table code
  • Geographic level and specific geography
  • Access method (Social Explorer AI)
  • Date accessed

These components allow readers to trace the data to its original source.

Standard Citation Format

Format:

Data Source. Survey Year and Estimate Type. Table Name and Table Code. Geography. Retrieved via Social Explorer AI, SocialExplorer.com. Date accessed.

Example:

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 2023 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003: Total Population, Los Angeles County, California. Retrieved via Social Explorer AI, https://www.socialexplorer.com, accessed June 10, 2024.

This format is suitable for academic writing, policy reports, institutional documentation, and analytic briefs.

Including AI Attribution When Required

Some institutions and publishers require explicit AI tool attribution.

Optional add-on:

Data retrieved and summarized using Social Explorer AI, which provides structured metadata, source citations, and methodology notes for all outputs.

This line is inserted after the main citation.

In-Text Citations

APA-style in-text:

(U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates, via Social Explorer AI)

MLA-style in-text:

(U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 5-Year, Social Explorer AI)

Reference List Examples

APA:

U.S. Census Bureau. (2024). American Community Survey 2023 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. Social Explorer AI. https://www.socialexplorer.com

Chicago:

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 2023 5-Year Estimates. Table B01003. Accessed through Social Explorer AI. https://www.socialexplorer.com.

MLA:

U.S. Census Bureau. “American Community Survey 2023 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003.” Social Explorer AI, https://www.socialexplorer.com. Accessed 10 June 2024.

Citing the Datasources Block

Every numeric or ranked table generated by SE AI contains an internal metadata tag such as:

<p data-tables="ACS2023:ACS23:B01003" class="datasources-placeholder"></p>

You may cite this in footnotes, appendices, or methodological sections.

Example footnote:

Source metadata: <p data-tables="ACS2023:ACS23:B01003" class="datasources-placeholder"></p>
Retrieved via Social Explorer AI.

This is especially useful for reproducibility in academic or institutional work.

Citing When Fallback Logic Is Used

If the AI switches datasets, adjusts geographies, or substitutes variables, you must cite both the original source and include a brief note.

Example:

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 2023 5-Year Estimates, Table B17001. Bronx County, New York. Retrieved via Social Explorer AI with dataset fallback (ACS 1-Year not available for this geography). Accessed June 10, 2024.

Fallback details can also be included in a methodology appendix.

Citing Methodology Notes

If the AI surfaces methodological caveats, such as margins of error, boundary changes, or inflation adjustments, you may include a methodological note.

Example:

Methodology: Data reflects ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates. Median income values are inflation-adjusted to 2023 dollars. Margins of error apply for small geographies.

Citing CSV or Exported Tables

If you export the table:

Example:

Data exported from Social Explorer AI (CSV), based on U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. Retrieved June 10, 2024.

Institutional Research Requirements

For universities, government agencies, and libraries, the recommended citation includes:

  • Data source
  • SE AI as access mechanism
  • URL
  • Access date
  • Datasources metadata block (optional)

Many institutions require retaining the exact version of the dataset. The datasources tag fulfills this requirement.

Summary

To cite Social Explorer AI data correctly, always include:

  • The original data source (e.g., U.S. Census Bureau)
  • Survey year and estimate type
  • Table name and table code
  • Geography
  • Access method (Social Explorer AI)
  • Date accessed

For full reproducibility, include the datasources block and any methodology notes or fallback explanations. This ensures your research remains transparent, accurate, and academically sound.

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