Not all statistics are created equal. You can ask the following questions in order to evaluate the reliability of a statistical data set.
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Authenticity |
Who published the data? What was their motivation for publishing it? |
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Authority |
What are the qualifications and reputation of the author(s) of the data set? |
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Date |
What is the date range of the data? Is it historical or current? |
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Content |
How is the data presented? Is it clear? |
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Accuracy |
Can the statistics be verified? Do the methods used and data presented seem valid? |
There is an almost overwhelming amount of statistical data available on the web. In this guide you will find a number of links to different agencies that produce statistics. The following list includes some of the biggest agencies that appear throughout the guide. These agencies all produce statistics on a wide range of topics.
You can also find statistics in peer-reviewed, academic journal articles in your discipline. The following are a few of the databases that feature statistical information.
The SLC has a number of print resources containing statistics on a wide variety of subjects. You can search the Worldcat@SU to find print materials on statistics in a particular subject area.
Here are some subject terms you can search with to find statistics on a given topic.
