How to Locate Statistical Sources
Western Washington University

Statistical research is a way of looking at facts from a larger perspective, to collect and observe the distribution of certain characteristics of a population or topic,  and propose theories of cause & effect by allowing one to generalize and compare among populations, across a span of time (time series), or predict the results of a change.  As you conduct research, you will often find that you need to locate specific facts or details about your topic. This guide describes some of the tools used to locate statistical sources, and identifies a representative list of resources in our collection.
See Also: Statistics: a metasite of guides compiled by the WWU libraries

Types of Statistical Sources

Almanacs & News Digests are often one volume reference sources containing statistics, news summaries, chronologies, and geographical, political, and biographical information. Most are published annually.
Examples are:

• World Almanac and Book of Facts online / Reference Desk Collection AY 76.N5.W7
• World Fact Book

• Britannica Book of the Year /Reference AE5.E364
• Demographic Yearbook / Reference HA 17.D45
• Europa Yearbook (Information on countries)/ Reference JN 1.E855
• Statistical Yearbook / Reference AZ 361.U45 current year

Statistical Compendiums compile information on a wide range of subjects, and from a variety of sources. Many of these limit their coverage to a particular level of government - - international, national, state, or local.

• Statistical Abstracts of the U.S.  is a good starting point for locating statistics on social, political, and economic conditions.
  The current year is located in the Reference Desk Collection HA 202.A1,  in Government Information from 1897 to the present, Haggard 2 C3.134.

Tools to Access Statistical Sources

Library Catalog - To locate statistical information in books, enter a  keyword with the term “statistic* ".  Examples are: crime and statistic*, United States and statistic*, families and statistic*. 
Note: an asterisk truncates the root word to look for "statistics" and "statistical".

Indexes to Journal Articles Containing Statistical Data

Contemporary Women's Issues;  EconLit;  Environmental Universe;  GPO Monthly Catalog;  PAIS International

Online Statistical Sources

Many local, county, state, federal and international governments are key providers of economic and demographic statistics via the web.
Search by entering the name of an agency, or a keyword term using any Web search engine.  Search the Government Information Web site: http://www.library.wwu.edu/ref/subjects/govinfo/index.htm for federal, state, local, Washington State, Canadian, and international sites, (see table below).

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Last update: Sept. 2007
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