Working with Numbers
When working with statistics, aggregate data, and microdata, it is important to consider a number of factors:
- Geography: the country, region, city, neighborhood
- Time Period: current, historical, over time, etc.
- Population/Units of Analysis: age, sex, race, ancestry, educational attainment/households, individuals
- Variables: responses to questionnaire and how they are organized
- Context: what is the hypothesis being investigated
- Questionnaire: what questions were asked; shows what will and won't be available in the data
- Availability: Sometimes the data you require was not collected, or was not arranged in the way that works best for your project. You may need to use multiple types of data from different sources as a way around this.
- Source: When you find data online, make sure it is clear from where (and when) the information originated.
The UCLA Data Archive's Tutorials provides excellent information about working with social science data, citing data sources, how to read codebooks, etc.
Online Statistics Sources
- UCLA Social Statistics & Data GuideMajor statistical sites by topic and region.
- Statistics on Women and Gender (U. Wisconsin)From the University of Wisconsin, guide to both metasites and more specific sources for locating statistics on women.
- Statistical Insight This link opens in a new window
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Indexes statistical publications from the US federal government (American Statistics Index), state governments and non-governmental organizations (Statistical Reference Index), and international intergovernmental organizations like the UN and EU (Index to International Statistics). - Sage Data (powered by Data Planet) This link opens in a new window
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A repository of publicly, privately, and commercially sourced statistical time-series data, with integrated analysis and mapping tools. - International Historical Statistics, 1750-2010 This link opens in a new window
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A three volume set, one for the Americas, one for Europe, and one for Africa, Asia, and Oceania. - SAGE Research Methods This link opens in a new window
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Books, reference works, and instructional videos about qualitative and quantitative methodologies in the sciences and social sciences. Includes Research Tools (online tools for planning research and choosing methods), Cases (examples of real research), Video (research process, data science, and methods) and Datasets (sample data chosen specifically to support practice with various statistical analysis methods). Includes Diversifying and Decolonizing Research, and Sage Research Methods Video: Quantitative and Mixed Methods.
- 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.
- California Statistical AbstractCompilation of statistics including population, budget, finance, crime, natural resources, etc. Published by the California Department of Finance.
- U.S. Office on Women's Health ReportsBrowse by health topic or resource type.
- Historical Statistics of the United States-Millennial Edition Online This link opens in a new window
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Searchable updated source of historical data on government statistics, including population, work and welfare, economics, and more.
- Women, Business, and the Law (World Bank)World Bank/IFC report that provides comparative data on gender equality by country and topic.
- UNICEF Data: Monitoring the Situation of Children and WomenUNICEF measures the situation of children and women and tracks progress through data collection and analysis.
- U.S. Transgender SurveyFrom the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), "the largest-ever research survey that provides much-needed data to help the public understand the lives and experiences of trans people in the United States and the disparities that many of us face."
- Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) This link opens in a new window
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Large archive of surveys useful in secondary analysis and quantitative research. Includes political and election studies, education studies, population research, economic attitudes and behavior, social indicators, and studies on health status from the United States and many countries worldwide. Searches of holdings are possible using author, title, keyword, or study number. For assistance, ask at the Data Science Center.
- StatsCanCanadian statistics source
- OECD iLibrary This link opens in a new window
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Online library of e-books, e-periodicals, and interactive statistical databases produced by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
- NationMasterGeneral stats on different countries, including some comparative data on specific crimes.
- Research and Statistics Related to Violence Against WomenFrom the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) in collaboration with the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), focused on the United States
- UN Economic Commission: Violence Against WomenUN data and reports on international violence against women.
- Sourcebook of Criminal Justice StatisticsData from more than 100 sources about many aspects of criminal justice in the United States, including sexual assault.
- Violence Against Women and Family Violence ProgramFrom the U.S. Department of Justice, this site includes selected research results and information on intimate partner violence, human trafficking, and rape.
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: StatisticsCDC stats cover sexual violence (including some global information), and intimate partner violence.
- California Criminal Justice ProfileIncludes state-wide data on crime by general category