Template: ENGL 127 Research Writing: Social Science

This research guide is to help students enrolled in English 127 - writing in the Social Sciences

Statistics in Gale Ebooks

Statistics in the Information Plus Reference Series

The Information Plus Reference Series in Gale Ebooks (aka Gale Virtual Reference Library) features factual analysis that is rich with meaningful statistics  (be sure to check the date!).

Limit your search by changing a search field to Publication Title and typing in Information Plus.

(click on image to enlarge)

images shows how to use the advanced search to limit to publication title, searching for Information Plus series, and a keyword

Find "Buried" Statistics

Search Strategies for Finding Statistics

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

Note: This is only one search strategy and will not help you find all statistics on a topic - that is, sometimes statistics are buried within other articles that are not found using the search term"statistics"

Search tips

In ProQuest databases, try the advanced search tips as outlined below and in the image:

  • Choose "Advanced search" so you are given multiple search boxes to use
  • Enter your search terms, basic keywords, into the first box
  • In the second box, add the word "Statistics" and then, using the drop-down 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
  • Be sure to limit to "Full text" results and then carry out the search

(click on image to enlarge)

image shows a screenshot of a Proquest search page, showing how to enter your search terms as outlined in the text in this box.

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 shows an chart with stats that was pulled from the article

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)

this is an image of a web article that shows a part of the text highlighted - in the text you can see statistics embedded.

Finding stats

Statistics on the Web

Find government statistics on the web using Smart Search skills:
  1. Type in a keyword for your topic: eg. recidivism teenaged boys statistics
  2. Limit your search to government websites: site:.gov
Example: 

recidivism teenaged boys statistics site:.gov

Find Stats on the Web

Statistics by Topic Area

For more help locating statistics, see the Statistics Research Guide (link below)