Search Strategies for Finding Statistics

Try the search strategies outlined below when you are looking for articles from library databases.

Note: This search strategy will not help you find all statistics on a topic; sometimes statistics are buried within other articles that are not found using the search term"statistics."

Search tips

1.  Add the word "statistics" as a keyword in your search. (This image is for ProQuest, but the tip works in most library databases.)
2. At the drop-down fields menu at the end of the search box select "All Subjects and Indexing - SU". This ensures that "statistics" are a major subject in the results

click on image to enlarge)

Charts, graphs, and diagrams

Statistics are often found inside books and articles, namely, in the graphs, charts, and diagrams within them. 

The image of the graph below is from a CQ Research report and is but one example of how you can locate find statistical information in larger information sources. 

(click on image to enlarge)

Image Source: Mantel, B. (2010, April 2). Breast cancer. CQ Researcher,  20, 289-312. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com

Articles or Books

• As you research, take the time to skim through your findings to uncover these "buried  treasures"

• Follow leads in the article to find other statistics (see example below):

(click on image to enlarge)