LIS4362 Week 5 Notes

General Note on Statistical Research

Consider what entity would be interested in compiling and publishing the statistics you are looking for. Is it a government entity? Federal, State, local, other government (such as a transportation district, tax district, etc.)? Is it of interest to corporations or their associations? Is it a stastical series of interest to international bodies (United Nations, UNESCO, OPEC, NATO, etc.)? Is it of interest to non-profit entities, for-profit entities, local governments, etc.

U.S. Government Statistics

Best starting points:

1. Statistical Abstract of the United States. See Peak. Note that the Census Bureau has digitized most historical volumes of Stat Abs. This is the best starting point because every statistical table has footnotes telling you the source. Also, many data sets are from non-governmental sources.  For historical statistics, see Historical statistics of the United States, colonial times to 1970.

One of the nice things about Statistical Abstract is that it incorporates many nongovernmental sources. For example, statistics from the American Dental Association, Association of American Railroads, National Catholic Educational Association, and the Population Association of America are included in the 2008 edition.

2. Fedstats: http://www.fedstats.gov/ - statistics from over 100 federal agencies.

3. Use a third party tool such as American Statistics Index. This is available online and is called ProQuest Statistical Insight.

4. usa.gov provides faceted Web searching of federal and state government sites.

5. Search Google with power searching techniques for locating government statistics (i.e., search by secondary level Internet domain).

Example: you want to find statistics on diabetes.

Step 1: Do a Google search: site:gov diabetes statistics

Step 2: Note the federal agencies issuing relevant statistics: nih.gov; cdc.gov; ahrq.gov; 4woman.gov; omhrc.gov; dhhs.gov; etc.

Step 3: Do a more specific search using the secondary domain in your search: site:cdc.gov diabetes statistics; site:nih.gov diabetes statistics; etc.

Another example: Google search:.air traffic statistics site:faa.gov

Additonal hints:

Check the Census Web site, specifically the "Subjects A to Z" section. These pages point to census sources even if they are outside the scope of Census Bureau statistics. For example, if looking for mortality statistics, see the "deaths" page. The page refers you to the appropriate source.

Check an online catalog, keeping in mind the relevant LCSH.

Either check the bound volumes of LCSH, or do a keyword search in a catalog (such as Peak), and determine best LCSH (backsearching). Then, re-execute your search on the LCSH.

Example: keyword search: statistics and airlines

Be examining some of these records, we might consider doing subject headings searches such as:

Aeronautics -- United States -- Statistics.
Air traffic control -- United States -- Statistics.
Aeronautics, Commercial -- United States -- Statistics -- Periodicals.
Aeronautics -- United States -- Statistics -- Periodicals.
United States. Air Traffic Service.
Airports -- United States -- Traffic control -- Statistics.
Airways -- United States -- Statistics.

Statistics Practice

1. How many African-American males, aged 25-34 years, were employed in the agricultural sector of the civilian labor force in 1998?

2. How many homicides have been committed in Denver? [most recent available data]. Find this from a federal agency. How does this compare with local data?

3. What was the average price for regular gasoline 10 years ago?

Census Statistics.

Although there are many kinds of censuses, the most important ones are the Decennial Census of Population and Housing and the Economic Census. Consult the Penrose Library Decennial Census Research Guide for further background information about the decennial censuses.

The best way to get results from the Decennial or Economic Censuses is to use American Factfinder (from the Census Bureau Web site). 

Decennial Census - Every 10 years on the 00s

Census Practice : How many households earned $100,000 or more in 1999 from the 80210 zip code?

Economic Census - Every 5 years on the 2s nd 7s.

Census Practice: Which state brings in the most money for the "Greeting Card Publishers" industry?

In April 29, 2009 Google began working on a public data project. So far, about 46 data sets are available.

http://www.google.com/publicdata/directory