Librarian for Public Policy & Urban Planning
Michelle Brasseur
Contact:
Young Research Library, Level A
310-825-1639
Subjects: Geography, Public Affairs
Quick Data and Statistics
- U.S. Data and StatisticsFind data about the U.S., such as maps and population, demographic, and economic data.
- ProQuest Statistical Abstract of the U.S. This link opens in a new windowComprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic conditions of the United States, from 2013 to the present. Volumes covering 1879-2012 are on the US Census site.
- Data-Planet Statistical DatasetsRestricted to UC. Data-Planet is a repository of publicly, privately, and commercially sourced statistical time-series data.
- Explore Census Data (formerly American FactFinder)This is a new platform for accessing U.S. census data. American FactFinder moved to this new platform on March 31, 2020.
- Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS)IPUMS is one of the all-time great sites for serious demographic and historical research using the U.S. Census microdata.
- Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) This link opens in a new windowRestricted to UCLA
- OECD iLibrary This link opens in a new windowOnline library of e-books, e-periodicals, and interactive statistical databases produced by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Public Opinion Polls
- Roper Center Public Opinion Archives (with iPOLL) This link opens in a new windowThe Roper Center for Public Opinion Research is one of the world's leading archives of social science data, specializing in data from surveys of public opinion. The data range from the 1930s, when survey research was in its infancy, to the present. On the Roper iPOLL page, you can search with keywords or filter by country, organization, etc.
- Gallup.comUCLA does not subscribe to these polls. We do get most of the content for national polls via the Roper iPoll database. We do have print copies of the Gallup Polls in the Library's Collection, Reference Reading Room, Call Number: HN90.P8 G35
Working with Numbers
When working with statistics, aggregate data, and microdata, it is important for you to consider the following:
- Context - what is the hypothesis, e.g. "middle income people are more likely to register and vote than lower income".
- Geography - the US, county, city, neighborhood, congressional district
- Time Period - current, historical, over time,
- Population/Units of Analysis - age, sex, race, ancestry, educational attainment/households, individuals
- Variables - observations or item of data for each unit of anlaysis; responses to questionnaire and how they are organized
- Questionnaire - what questions were asked; shows what will and won't be available in the data
- Source of the Data - is it publicly available from a government source or collected and produced by a company for profit?
Not sure what these and other statistical terms are? Check out the Glossary of Selected Computing and Social Science Data Terms (Jim A. Jacobs)
UCLA Campus Support
There are several departments and programs on campus available to assist you with data access and analysis:
- UCLA Library Research Guide for Social Statistics and DataAccess to statistics and data collected by the UCLA Library as well as subject specialists available to assist you.
- UCLA Data Archive's Tutorialsprovides excellent information about working with social science data, citing data sources, how to read codebooks, etc.
- UCLA Statistical ConsultingOffer drop-in and schedule appointments to undergraduate, graduate, even community users, to assist you with all your data collection and analysis needs
- ATS Statistical ComputingGreat resource for tutorials, online statistical publications, and a wide range of online support for major stat packages like STATA, SPSS, GRASS, R. They also provide stat consulting for graduate students only.
Guides and Handouts
This handout is designed to help you understand various approaches to locating data and statistics.
CLICC Software Shortcut
Access a variety of applications from ANY computer without having to install anything. All you need is a valid UCLA logon, and to be connected to the UCLA network. From off-campus, login to the VPN first; if you're on campus you are already connected.