LibGuides: Research Guide: Researching an Argument: Finding evidence: statistics

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Research Guide: Statistics
by Jennifer Rohan Last Updated Apr 10, 2024 70 views this year

Evidence: statistics

Supporting your argument with factual evidence

The next step in the process is to find evidence to support your own argument. I guarantee your instructor does not want to read an argument packed full of statistics! However, a carefully placed, specific statistic can be very useful. Use the links below to find statistics on various topics.

General collections of statistics

Gallup Poll
Gallup assesses the state of the nation on all matters, from healthcare satisfaction to hiring and housing
Pew Research Center
The Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan "fact tank" that provides reports and statistics on the issues, attitudes and social trends shaping America and the world.
Population Reference Bureau
Find stats on population and topics such as economy, education and health. Includes data for the United States and the World
Statistical Abstract
A "summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the US." For the most current, refer to the agency cited in the source notes for each table.
Statistics in the Yahoo! Directory
Yahoo is both a list of web sites by topic and a search engine. You can select their topics or you can search for your own specific topic.
U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. Census data reflects the demographic make-up of the U.S., with figures on family size and structure, income, health insurance coverage, and much, much more.
Washington State Data Book
Washington State resources, services, people, government broken down by statistics

Sample Agency statistic websites

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Uniform Crime Reports
Produced from data provided by nearly 17,000 law enforcement agencies across the United States.
Other annual publications, such as Hate Crime Statistics and Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted address specialized facets of crime such as hate crime or the murder and assaults of law enforcement officers respectively.
National Center for Health Statistics
This division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gathers statistics on all manner of health topics, from aging and birth rates to diseases and physical activity. The place to start looking for health statistics.
National Safety Council
Search for statistics on first aid, distracted driving, firefighers, the job outlook, and much more

Where Can I Find Statistics?

Strategies for Finding Statistics

Many statistics are gathered by government agencies (for example, the U.S. Department of Energy) or large organizations (for example, The American Cancer Society.) Use the tabs above to explore websites that gather statistical information
However, you can also find good statistics within books or journal, magazine or newspaper articles.
When you find statistics, check the source of the data. In other words, does the book, article or website list where the statistics came from? Do they come from a reputable or well-known source? If not, attempt to find statistics from a more trustworthy source.