My research methods paper asks for MLA citations—should I cite a publicly available dataset like a book?

It is definitely a bit tricky since the MLA handbook doesn't have a dedicated chapter for datasets, but you are on the right track by treating it like a website or a digital archive. Think of citing a dataset like giving credit for a specialized ingredient in a recipe; even if it is not a standard book, you still need to tell your reader exactly where you found that specific data so they can verify your work. You should include the author or organization that created the data, the title of the dataset in italics, the version or date if available, and the URL or DOI where it lives. It is totally normal to feel frustrated by this, especially after a long break from school, but professors usually care more about your consistency and transparency than finding a perfect, textbook-ready format for something as niche as a raw dataset. If you are worried about it looking a bit strange, just remember that your goal is to make the information findable for your reader. If you were looking at a map and someone pointed to a specific coordinate, you would want to know exactly which map they were using, right? That is all you are doing here. Just be consistent with the information you provide for every dataset you cite, and you will be perfectly fine. You have clearly put a lot of effort into your research, so do not let the formatting stress you out too much—you are doing a great job navigating these academic expectations, and you will get the hang of it in no time.