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This guide refers primarily to selected sources of descriptive statistics in the Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library (SSHEL). The focus is on health, education and areas within the social sciences, such as crime, population and demography, and arms control. Links to international sources of statistical information are also included. If you are interested in sources on statistical methodology, please refer to subject guides in SSHEL, particularly the Sociology and Psychology subject guides. Other libraries on campus, particularly Government Information Services and Scholarly Commons have additional important sources of statistical information. If you would like to recommend a website for inclusion, please contact the Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library.
All titles listed in this guide are located in the Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library reference collection unless otherwise noted. The location SSHEL RCC indicates the item is held in the SSHEL Reference Circulating Collection.
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This dictionary provides “practical and nontechnical” definitions for statistical and methodological terms and concepts commonly found in social science research reports. The work is intended for students and researchers alike. It is arranged alphabetically, and contains suggestions for further reading and useful websites. The fourth edition also provides updates to existing terms and new entries to reflect recent changes in the field.
310 W89 SSHEL RCC
Contains statistics on social, political, educational and various other subjects. This
is a fairly reliable and up-to-date source for statistics of all kinds. An alphabetical is
index at the beginning of the book.
The collections below all have access to a great deal of statistical data and are excellent resources. Some tools within each collection are restricted to faculty or students of the sponsoring institution.
American National Election Studies (ANES)
American National Election Studies (ANES) provides data sets and reports on voting, public
opinion, and political participation that serve the research needs of social scientists, teachers,
students, policy makers and journalists.
An Atlas of Poverty in America: One Nation, Pulling Apart. 2006.
Q. 362.50973 G463a 2006 Map Library
This atlas includes many maps and graphs (in color) listing statistics and demographics of
poverty in the United States. The atlas focuses on the living experience of specific groups and
regions as well as a history of poverty and poverty policy dating back as early as the 1930s. The
text includes a list of maps, graphs and pictures in the front, and a listing of sources and an
index at the end. A CD-ROM, CensusMapper, accompanies the atlas.
The Book of States. Published biennially.
JK2403 .B6 Undergraduate Reference
Provides data on state finances and state services such as education, transportation and
welfare among others for all of the 50 states. A useful source for cross-sectional
statistics.
County and City Data Book. 1949-.
317.3Un3co
Compilations of census data for counties and large cities. Includes data on population,
employment and income, as well as financial, educational and vital statistics
CQ's State Fact Finder. 2007.
Q. 317.3C839 Main Stacks
This fact finder is divided into 12 sections: Population, Economics, Geography, Government,
Federal Impacts, Taxes, Revenues and Finances, Education, Health, Crime and Law Enforcement,
Transportation, and Welfare. Each of these sections has many hard to find statistics that are
not included in standard government agency reports. Each table gives the reader a ranking of
each state. Each section ends with carefully documented source notes that follow the tables
in that section. An index is also included.
Economic Research Service (ERS)
The ERS is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and provides analysis of economic
information on issues relating to agriculture, food, and the environment.
Economic Statistics Briefing Room
The Economic Statistics Briefing Room (ESBR) provides public access to statistics in areas
such as Income, Prices, Transportation and Employment.
FactFinder
The go-to source for demographic information about the United States. It’s possible to browse
or search for statistics by topic, geography, race and ethnic groups, or industry codes.
Fedstats
FedStats gathers statistics from more than 70 agencies United States Federal Government. “The
Federal Interagency Council on Statistical Policy maintains this site to provide easy access to the
full range of statistics and information.”
FedWorld Information Network
From the Department of Congress, and managed by the National Technical Information Services
(NTIS), FedWorld is a gateway to government information. It is a directory of government
departments and information services.
Historical
Statistics of the United States: Millennial Edition.
Q. 317.3H6291 Main Reference
Comparative statistics on the political, social and economic organization of the United
States, including population, migration, labor, agriculture and recreation. A useful Time
Period Index displays the initial year for a statistical table. A comprehensive subject index is
also included.
Monitoring the Future Study
Monitoring the Future is an ongoing study of the behaviors, attitudes, and values of
American secondary school students, college students, and young adults. Each year, a total
50,000-8th, 10th and 12th grade students are surveyed (12th graders since 1975, and 8th and 10th
graders since 1991).
The State of the States in Developmental Disabilities. 2011.
Q. 362.1968 St29 2011
Like its previous editions, the
State of the States in Developmental Disabilities seeks to monitor the growth and
development in services for the developmentally disabled on a state by state basis. The first part
of the book provides an historical and contemporary overview, an analysis of trends, and an
explanation of operational definitions used in the study. Part two presents detailed profiles of
all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The profiles are presented in graphical and statistical
formats. The final part of the book is technical notes and a list of the state agencies that were
contacted for information. Located at the back of the book is an author and subject index.
Statistical Handbook on the Social Safety Net. 2004.
Q. 025.06361 P136s
This book is useful to students at all levels of research looking for a compendium of
statistics relating to the national social safety net. It is also intended for grant writing
purposes, providing statistics for socioeconomic data on key indicators. The book is
presented in three major sections. The first section discusses the definition of social
safety net, the economic health of nations and definitions of poverty. The second section
provides narrative and data encompassing traditional safety net programs in the United States and
around the world. The third section focuses on women and children’s public safety net
issues. Each section has tabular data from a variety of well-documented sources. There
is a glossary of terms and index included.
Voter Turnout in the United States 1788-2009
Includes extensive information about voter turnout. Information can be browsed by office or
election type. Advanced search allows you to search by specific date range. Data is downloadable in
PDF or Excel.
Black Americans (A Statistical Source Book).
305.896073 B5622 Main Reference
Published annually. Provides data and tables focusing on demographics and populace
characteristics; vital statistics and health; education; government, elections, and public opinion;
crime, law enforcement and corrections; labor and employment; income, poverty, and wealth.
Current Population Survey
The Current Population Survey is a joint effort between the Bureau of Labor Statistics and
the Bureau of the Census to collect, analyze and disseminate information on labor force
characteristics in the United States for policy makers, legislators, researchers and students. The
site is searchable and also provides links to related surveys and supplements.
Encyclopedia of the US Census. 2012.
304.60723 En19 2012 Main Reference
Leading experts on all aspects of the U.S. census provide 120 concise, authoritative articles
on the decennial census and related topics. Subjects covered include: content of the
census, how the census is planned, advertised, and conducted, uses of the census, census history
and politics of the census. Includes illustrations, glossary, index, bibliographical
references and online resources for census information.
Hispanic Americans: A Statistical Source Book. 1991-.
305.8680021 H629 Main Reference
Published annually. Provides statistical data and tables devoted to Hispanic Americans.
Covers topics such as demographics, social familial and household characteristics, education,
employment, poverty and crime. Two types of information are included in this book: complete count
information from census statistics and survey information. The glossary at the end of the book
provides definitions of terms, with the index providing table numbers, rather than page numbers,
for data accession.
Mapping the Measure of America
An interactive data map produced by the American Human Development Project.
Demographic, health, education, and income data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, and Human Development Index scores derived from this data, are
available in a clickable map by U.S. state or congressional district, a customizable chart, or
downloadable spreadsheet. Updated biannually.
For more international statistics, see the International and European Union Statistical Resources guide.
*See our College and University Rankings page for statistical comparisons of higher education institutions.
National Center for Education Statistics
Collects, analyzes, and reports complete statistics on the condition of American education;
conducts and publishes reports; and reviews and reports on education activities internationally.
This site provides access to many reports and publications of the NCES. Publications can be
searched by subject, keyword, release date and NCES number. Datasets of surveys can be downloaded,
and manipulated using the Data Analysis System (DAS), a Windows application that downloads with the
data. Reports include:
University LibraryFor comments on this page contact: Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library
Last modified by: Kelly McCusker on 2/27/13