Research Guide: Statistics

This guide is a starting place to help you locate statistics on a variety of topics from many different sources

Locating statistics

Strategies for Finding Statistics

  1. Many statistics are gathered by government agencies (for example, the U.S.Department of Energy) or large organizations (for example, The American Cancer Society). For more info on how to better locate these, consider looking at the "Web Data Tools" tab to the left.
  1. However, you can also find good statistics within books or articles from journals, magazines, or newspapers. Click on the next tab to learn more.
  2. 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.

Finding Statistics in Charts, Graphs, and Books

Sometimes statistics are "buried" within the text of  journal, magazine, or newspaper articles

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.


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

Searching in the Library's Databases

The databases below are great places to find articles from newspapers, magazines, and journals. Looking for statistics embedded within these articles can be helpful. 

Finding Statistics

Sometimes statistics are "buried" within the text of books, journals, magazines, or newspapers. Try this search strategy 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. Sometimes statistics are buried within other articles that are not found using the search term"statistics"
Example in ProQuest databases:
  • As shown in the image below, you can start by choosing the advanced search option. 

  • You can then search a keyword or two for your topic. Here, in the first box, the word "obesity" is the keyword/topic.

  • Then in the next box, you can add the word statistics and then limit that row to "SU Subject Terms."  

(click on image to enlarge)

A search in PQ showing how to limit to Subject terms, searching Obesity AND statistics

 
Example in any Ebsco databases

In EBSCO's Academic Search Complete database, you can carry out a similar search as that above. 

  • As shown in the image below, you can start by choosing the advanced search option. 

  • You can then search a keyword or two for your topic. Here, in the first box, the word "obesity" is the keyword/topic.

  • Then in the next box, you can add the word statistics and then limit that row to "SU Subject Terms."  

(Click on image to enlarge)

image showing the drop down filter to limit to Subject terms, making the search one of: Obesity AND statistics

Understanding Statistics - Books

book cover

Naked Statistics: stripping the dread from the data

Main Collection 519.5 W561n 2014

For those who slept through Stats 101, this book is a lifesaver. Wheelan strips away the arcane and technical details and focuses on the underlying intuition that drives statistical analysis. 

book cover

The Art of Statistics: How to Learn from Data

Main Collection 519.5 S755a 2019

In this "important and comprehensive" guide to statistical thinking (New Yorker), discover how data literacy is changing the world and gives you a better understanding of life's biggest problems.     

book cover

Critical Statistics: seeing beyond the headlines

Main Collection 300.15195 D514c 2019

This accessible and entertaining new textbook provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to understand the barrage of numbers encountered in their everyday lives and studies. 

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Statistics in a Nutshell

Main Collection 519.5 B743s 2012

Need to learn statistics for your job? Want help passing a statistics course? Statistics in a Nutshell is a clear and concise introduction and reference for anyone new to the subject. 

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Dictionary of Statistics and Methodology

Reference Collection 300.1 V887d 2011

In this newly updated Fourth Edition, new terms are defined, new synonyms are included, and both are illustrated with new graphics. 

book cover

More Damned Lies and Statistics: How Numbers Confuse Public Issues

eBook Collection

Straightforward, lively, and humorous account of how statistics are produced, used, and misused by everyone from researchers to journalists.