Research Guides: Statistical Sources: Overview

Recommended Resources

Statista
Provides access to statistics and studies gathered by market researchers, trade organizations, scientific publications, and government sources on over 600 industries.
Statistical Abstract of the United States
A summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic conditions of the United States, taken from the Census from 1885 to present. This is your best bet for historical statistics on the U.S.
SimplyAnalytics
A mapping and data visualization application that allows the user to make maps and analyze geographic data. In addition to the Standard Package, our subscription includes SimmonsLOCAL and Claritas PRIZM data.

To create an account, click on "create an account" and enter your SMU e-mail address and a password. Also, only 5 users can use this resource concurrently. Please log out when done using this resource.

Policy Map
A simple mapping tool that allows you to discover statistics and more by location in the United States. Topics include demographics, health, housing, quality of life, and economy
U.S. Government Data and Statistics Portal
A portal to data covering these topics: General Government, Business and Economics, Defense and International Relations, Environment, Energy, and Agriculture, Family, Home, and Community, Geospatial Data, Health and Nutrition, Jobs and Education, Public Safety and Law, Science and Technology, Travel, Transportation, and Recreation
StateMaster.com
Easy access to current, detailed statistics for states in the U.S. on many topics. Select a category of statistic on the homepage or choose the States A-Z tab.

Search Strategies

Find statistics on the web by adding "data" or "statistics" or "government" to your keyword search.

Ask yourself who would be most likely to generate a statistic on the desired topic. For example, if you are needing a statistic about education in the United States, there's a governmental bureau that tracks education statistics. Consider these likely places:

U.S. government - Our government is the largest compiler of statistics in the world. Think about which department would be most likely to generate the statistics you are looking for.
Professional or trade associations - Examples include the American Marketing Association, the American Medical Association, and the National Retail Federation.
Special interest groups - Organizations that have a specific purpose like the American Diabetes Association or the American Civil Liberties Union. Make sure to consider a possible bias.
Data collection agencies - Examples include Gallup and Pew Research

Encyclopedia of Associations
Directory of nonprofit American organizations of national scope in categories such as business, governmental, military, cultural, educational, sports, and many more.

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Statistical Sources: Overview

Recommended Resources

Search Strategies

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