Datasets
Beneath the surface of written texts and spoken wisdom lies a deeper foundation of knowledge—one composed of data, records, and measured truths. Datasets form the underlying currents of research and discovery, transforming raw observations into patterns, predictions, and revelations. Whether gathered from celestial movements, ancient relics, enchanted archives, or arcane experiments, datasets serve as the unseen structure behind many scholarly works.
Unlike books or conference proceedings, datasets have unique citation elements, including:
The data collector or organization, as datasets may be compiled by different hands than those who analyze them.
The dataset title, which describes the nature of the collected information.
The version or update date, as data is often refined or expanded over time.
The repository or archive where the dataset is stored, ensuring accessibility for future scholars.
Below, you will find examples of dataset citations, preserving the raw knowledge that fuels greater discoveries.
Empirical Studies & Observational Records
From astronomical charts mapping celestial bodies to alchemical experiments measuring the properties of enchanted metals, some datasets serve as a direct record of the world’s hidden workings.
Example (Harvard Style): Celestian Observatory. (Year 1782). Starlight Flux and Temporal Distortions: A Five-Century Survey [Dataset]. Archived in Grand Astral Repository. Available at: https://celestialdata.archive.
Compilations of Ancient Knowledge
Some datasets are not built from new research but instead painstakingly assembled from relics, artifacts, and fragmented texts, bringing lost knowledge back into the light.
Example (APA 7th Edition): Eldertome Archivists. (Year 1550). The Codex Fragmentation Study: Reconstructing the Lost Texts of the First Age (Version 3) [Dataset]. Grand Archive of Etherea.
Arcane Research & Experimental Data
Some knowledge must be forged through trial and iteration, as scholars seek to document the unseen, measure the unmeasurable, and quantify the unknown.
Example (Chicago Style): Runebinder, L. 1674. The Resonance Experiment: Measuring the Harmonics of Magical Ley Lines [Unpublished dataset]. Academy of Mystic Energies Research Archive.
Raw data is the foundation upon which knowledge is built, allowing scholars, researchers, and visionaries to peer beyond what is known and into what is possible. By citing datasets, we ensure that the records of past research remain available to shape future discoveries. All knowledge begins with observation—even the most powerful spells must first be tested.
