Search Strategies for Finding Statistics

Try the search strategies outlined below when you are looking for statistics in resources found in 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

Use relevant keywords and subject terms:

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

Track down Leads to Statistics

• You can track down the sources of statistics mentioned in articles. That can lead to additional useful statistics. In the example below, a newspaper editorial from the Modesto Bee mentions statistics from the 2003 National Corrections Reporting Program. If that were my topic, I could go to the source to look for more current and other statistics.

(click on image to enlarge)