Often, the place to find and store data are the very same. Researchers will place the data they collect into general or disciplinary repositories. While other researchers can search those repositories for data and datasets on their topic. Some repositories are costly while others are considered "open" and offer data freely for anyone to download.
Data and Statistics Are Not Equivalent
Although both terms are commonly used synonymously, they are, in fact, very different. Before you start searching for either, think about which one best applies to your needs.
- Data: are collected raw numbers or bits of information that have not been analyzed or organized.
- Statistics: are the product of collected data after it has been analyzed or organized that will help derive meaning from the data.
The National Library of Medicine has a great resource full of other data-related definitions.