ENGL 102: Men, S. (Spring 2024) - Spark Grant Project: Searching for statistics
Video tutorial: How to find statistics to help identify a community problem/issue
Watch this video for a sample search and tips for how to find statistics online.
Searching for statistics video tutorial (16:16 mins):
Starting points for finding...
Government agencies are often the best places to begin for finding statistics. Why? Because they're often the organizations responsible for collecting statistics, particularly nationwide.
Local, regional, and state government info and statistics:
- Pierce County WebsiteOfficial site for the Pierce County government services.
- Explore Census DataFind popular facts (population, income, etc.) and frequently requested data about your community. An easy way into Census data!
- MIT Living wage calculatorSearch for living wage, minimum wage, and poverty levels for states and major cities/metro areas.
- Crime Statistics, City of TacomaCrime statistics available from the City of Tacoma site.
- Access WashingtonOfficial website for Washington State. Find information about the State of Washington, statistics and programs, various resources, and history.
- City DataTry the "Quick Navigation" map or the "Interactive Data Map" on this site to drill down to all kinds of local data about residents, community, median income, and more.
- City of Tacoma WebsiteGateway site for all city-related services, business, and government issues. Use the tabs across the top to drill down into specific areas or issues.
National government statistics:
- U.S. Census BureauAuthoritative data on the U.S. population including city and state profiles which cover info from these various areas: Business and economy, Race and ethnicity, families and living arrangements, employment, education, and more
- Bureau of Labor StatisticsFind information on employment, unemployment, inflation, wages and more.
- Data.govData sets and applications for analyzing and presenting them, compiled by U.S. government departments and agencies.
- Economic Census data - U.S. Census BureauEvery five years, the U.S. Census Bureau conducts the Economic Census, the official measure of the Nation’s businesses and economy.
- National Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), located within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences, is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education
Adding the keyword statistics to your Google search can be a helpful starting point when searching for statistics.
Both organizations and government sites are good places to find statistics. Try adding the domain trick to your Google search for organizations and government sources. How? Just add site:.org and then try the same search with site:.gov to compare-and-contrast results -- and resulting statistics!
Now you try!
National polling data:
- The Pew Research CenterThe Pew Research Center "is a nonpartisan “fact tank” that provides information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world."
- Gallup PollsAnother leading polling "think tank" that gathers current polling data on a wide variety of national and international issues. Click on "Resources" to view reports, datasets, and more.
Think Tanks:
There are many "think tanks" out there, which are organizations that offer substantial reports and policy recommendations on a wide variety of topics from various perspectives. Here are a few that you might try:
- Brookings InstituteThe Brookings Institution is a well-known and respected non-profit public policy organization based in Washington, DC.
- Heritage FoundationThe Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institution—a think tank—whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies.
- Carnegie Endowment for International PeaceTheir mission is to advance the cause of peace through analysis and development of fresh policy ideas and direct engagement and collaboration with decision makers in government, business, and civil society.
- Cato InstituteThe Cato Institute is a public policy research organization dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peace.
- Institute for Policy StudiesThe Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) is a progressive, multi-issue think tank dedicated to building a more equitable, ecologically sustainable, and peaceful society.
- Council on Foreign RelationsThe Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization and think tank. They focus on foreign policy and communications.
Statistical Abstract of the United States
Not sure which government agency keeps what statistic, or where to start looking for statistics? Often a librarian's first place to start is the Statistical Abstract of the United States! We keep this handy source in the Reference collection.
Statistical abstract of the United States 2019Call Number: Main Collection HA202.P73 2018Publication Date: 2019A print reference book that compiles data from all government agencies. Often a librarian's first place to look for statistics!
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