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Finding Sources of Statistics
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To find the numbers you need may involve a search of either paper
or online sources - or, possibly, both. As a Wesleyan Library reader,
you have access to many sources as well as the services of library
reference staff members. After determining the subject of the numbers
you wish to locate, consider time frame -- current? recent?
historical? -- then consider your search strategy, including the
terminology you might want to employ as you begin your literature
searches.
Wesleyan University Library online
resources – Some of these resources may be
available for the use of Wesleyan students, staff and faculty,
only.
Databases
- Statistical
Universe - This is a Web-based service, to which Wesleyan
subscribes from Congressional Information Service. It offers
access to broad array of statistical resources, indexing more than
100,000 publications. One of its features is its own gateway to
Statistical Abstract of the United States (see more below). Your
search may produce citations and abstracts. It may lead to site
links and/or full-text information; however, all is not
necessarily full text.
- Information Please
Almanac - While general in nature, this online almanac
offers links to a group of subject almanacs as well as other
reference tools. It can be a good starting point for looking for
factual information.
- Dow
Jones Interactive - This family of databases offers a
series of news and business-oriented choices. For access: go to
Indexes and Databases from the library's home page. An especially
useful file can be found under the heading "Historical Market Data
Center" - price histories of American securities.
Electronic Journals
and Annuals
- Journal of
Transportation and Statistics - This serial government
document is accessible from Wesleyan's catalog - another example
of a subject-orientated journal with a Web link.
- Statistical
Abstract of the United States - HA 202 year (paper) -
Often, this source (which dates back to 1878), available to you in
both paper and online form at Wesleyan, either answers a "numbers"
question or proves to be a good starting point for further
statistical searches. Its many tables cite their sources - useful
information.
WWW Statistics
Sources - Whenever you search the Internet for data, you
will be well served to note the sources of the material you find.
Primarily, the name of the agency posting the information should be
available to help you judge its veracity. Secondarily, you may want
to note sources so that you can cite them in your work.
- Government
Documents -There are a number of points of departure for
access to federal, state and international sources. One good
choice is located on the Library's home page, under the major
heading, Electronic Sources, the file Government Information.
- Wesleyan Economics
Department index of web sites offers an excellent
selection of useful sites.
- Fedstats - The
Federal Interagency Council on Statistical Policy maintains this
site for easy access to the statistics and information provided by
more than 70 federal agencies.
- Censtats - This
site is maintained by the U.S. Census Bureau. It offers
information on many people and business subjects with links to
related sites. It offers a number of options, including its own
search engine for additional exploration.
- United Nations - The
United Nations Web site offers an array of statistical
possibilities. You will note that some require a subscription for
access; however, many do not.
- Statistical
Resources on the Web - This index of statistical sources
originates at the University of Michigan's Documents Center. The
site offers links under such headings as Agriculture, Business and
Industry, Cost of Living, Government Finances, Housing, Labor and
much more. Because it originates at Michigan's Documents
Department, it also offers easy access to that institution's
extensive government documents site.
- Dr. Ed Yardeni's
Economics Network - He is the Chief Global Economist and
Investment Strategist of Deutsche Bank Securities in New York He
maintains a Web-based network of economic and financial
information.
- National Center for Education
Statistics - NCES is the primary federal entity for
collecting and analyzing data that are related to education in the
United States and other nations.
- American Statistical
Association - This is the official Web site of the ASA. It
offers information about the profession and presents links to the
sites of related organizations and to electronic resources.
Wesleyan University Library
Print Resources – Olin Memorial Library's Reference
Collection includes a significant array of statistical sources.
Recommendation: begin by browsing the CTW online catalog because
useful sources may be shelved under a variety of call numbers and
some publications may be shelved in the library's circulating
collection. If you wish to browse shelves, the call numbers HA-HD are
especially rich in statistical titles. Note: the usual pattern is the
shelving of the library's latest edition of a work in Reference;
earlier editions, which may be borrowed, in the stacks - call numbers
is the same.
Encyclopedias,
Dictionaries, Almanacs, and Guides
- Cambridge Dictionary of Statistics - QA 276 I5 E84 1998
- A useful resource for students and professionals in all areas of
statistics. Entries often provide citations to source
publications.
- Dictionary of Statistics and Methodology: a Non-Technical
Guide for the Social Sciences - HA 17 V64 - Aimed at the
non-specialist, this handy reference work supplies quick, useful
definitions of terms in the field.
- Global Data Locator - Z 7551 K87 - User's guide to
worldwide statistical information sources, providing reviews and
tables of contents for more than 200 publications.
- Statistics Sources - Z 7551 S83 HA1 - Subject guide to
data on social, business and many other topics - United States and
international.
- World Almanac and Book of Facts - AY 67 N5 W7 - This
standard work dates back to 1923. As is typical of library
practice, the latest edition is in the Reference Collection and
the back numbers are shelved in the stacks and are available for
borrowing.
Serials and
Annuals
- Monthly Bulletin of Statistics of the United Nations -
HC 57 U66 - Publication of this multi-volume work began in 1947 in
order to make available international economic statistics on a
monthly basis. Contents: figures on population, workforce,
production, mining, trade, transport, finance, construction,
etc.
- Demographic Yearbook - HA 17 D45 - World figures
regarding population, birth and death rates, marriages, divorces,
etc. Wesleyan owns 1948+
- World Economic Factbook - HC 59.15 W67 - Concise guide
to 200+ countries; brief, two-page profiles of each. Uniformity of
coverage allows easy comparisons.
General Statistical
Sources
- Statistical Abstract of the United States - HA 202 year
- This annual publication is packed with tables, most of which
indicate the source publication. A broad spectrum of subjects is
represented. Latest edition is in Reference; 1878+ shelved in the
stacks.
- Statistical Abstract of the World - HA 155 S7 - An
alphabetical arrangement of 6-page (average) entries for about 180
countries of the world. Information is presented in a uniform
manner. Categories: human factors, education, science, government,
labor, production, etc.
- Statistical History of the United States from Colonial
Times to the Present- HA 202 A385 1965 - A companion
publication to the Statistical Abstract, this title covers longer
time periods. There is also a similar edition in Docs Ref (east
corridor) C3.134/2:H62/789-970
- Datapedia of the United States, 1790-2000 : America Year by
Year - HA 202 K87 1994 - This commercial publication was
created in the absence of an updated edition of the Statistical
History, which is noted above.
- PAIS International - Z 7163 P92 - This index service
(title varies) has a long paper publication history, dating from
1915 to date. The library offers online access by way of Indexes
and Databases from the home page. Citations and abstracts are
offered; however, full text is not available.
- United Nations. Statistical Office. Statistical Yearbook.
Annuaire Statistique - HA 12.5 U63 -With a publication history
dating from 1948 to date, this set offers both recent numbers and
strong historical resources. Other U.N. statistical publications
are shelved nearby.
- International Historical Statistics - HA 4675 M552 1998
- While this series is represented in this guide by the call
number for a volume covering Africa, Asia, & Oceania, the
library owns companion titles (with similar call numbers which
cover the Americas and Europe. The time period covered is
1750-1993.
- County and City Extra - HA 203 C68 1999 - An annual
publication offering statistical information on state, county,
metropolitan area, congressional district and all U.S. cities with
1990 populations of 25,000 or more.
Cost of Living and
Income Statistics
- American Cost of Living Survey - HD 8072 A65 1994 -
Compilation of reported prices on about 600 products and services
in more than 400 U.S. cities.
- World Cost of Living Survey - HD 6977 F57 1997 -
Arrangement is alphabetical by country; additional tables for
major cities. It is a compilation of more than 30,000 prices
reported for more than 4,000 goods. Coverage: beverages, clothing,
fuel, housing, and more.
- American Incomes -HC 110 I5 A447 1999 - Trends in
household income and the statistics of wealth and poverty are
included. Source publications are cited.
- Household Spending - HC 110 C6 H69 1999 - The tables in
this volume are based on unpublished data collected by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics' Consumer Expenditure Survey. Both large and
small purchases are included.
- Key Indicators of the Labour Market - HD 5701 K49 1999
- Timely information on the world of work is provided, here, by
the International Labour Organization.
- Statistical Handbook on Consumption and Wealth in the
United States - HC 110 C6 S73 1999 - Specific data on American
consumerism is presented in this publication. Sources are given
for all tables.
- The Value of a Dollar 1860-1999 - HB 235 U6 V35 1999 -
A record of the prices of thousands of items American consumers
have purchased from the Civil War to the present. "Snapshots"
features include standard salaries, significant economic events,
and investments.
last updated: Nov 13, 2001
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