Statistics

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Statistics

• Basic Information
• at UTSA Library
• Librarian Rita Wilson
• rita.wilson_at_utsa.edu

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At the end of this presentation you will be able
to . . .

• Recognize several issues in evaluating
  statistical data
• Identify some UTSA databases (online indexes)
  with statistical information
• Locate reference books with statistics on your
  topic
• Find further assistance

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Statistics

• Definition
• Quantitative or numerical data that has been
  collected, organized, and interpreted in some
  way.

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Examples

• Population of China
• Number of drug arrests in 1993
• Number of people diagnosed with HIV by gender
• Average annual expenditure per capita for health
  care

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Issues

• Statistics need to be compiled and created by
  someone.
• (U.S. government is the largest producer of
  statistics)
• Who has collected the data?
• Do they have a bias? Do they have the facts?

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Issues

• Who created the statistics?
• Always check for the source of statistics. If
  they dont give a source be skeptical.
• Look for the creator of the data not just the
  publisher.

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Sources in Newspapers Journals

• Articles can point toward original statistics.
  Look for source.
• Example "U.S. Department of Labor report
  released today said . . .
• Try to find the original source

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Published in Wall Street Journal, July 11, 2005
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How are terms defined?

• Whats being counted?
• Look for the definition, do not assume you know!

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Example unemployed

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics definition
• Did not work even a single paid hour
• Did not work more than 15 unpaid hours
• Actively looking for a job
• Available to start work

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When was it counted?

• Frequency U.S. census is only done every 10
  years.
• Other years are estimates.
• Currency When was the data collected?

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Not all statistics are comparable across time

• Different gathering techniques
• Different categories (exp., U.S. Census
  definition of Hispanics changed)
• Different date ranges
• Different values (especially monetary values. Is
  it nominal or adjusted for inflation?)

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Bias

• How reliable is the agency or group who collected
  the information?
• Do they have a vested interest in the results?

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False Correlations

• Beware making correlations where none existed
• Just because two events happened simultaneously
  does not mean they are related
• Decrease in smoking and birth rate

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UTSA Library Resources for Statistics
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First Choice for U.S.

• Statistical Abstract of the United States
• Available
• Print (JPL DT)
• Internet (free)

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Statistical Abstract of the United States

• Numbers in index are table numbers not page
  numbers
• Older print issues in JPL stacks
• Internet (1851-2006) http//www.census.gov/statab
  /www/

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Similar titles (Print)

• Statistical Abstract of Latin America
• JPL Ref HA935 .S8
• International Historical Statistics
• 3 vols Americas EuropeAfrica, Asia
• JPL Downtown
• Europa World Year Book
• Reference Desk JPL Downtown Reference
• Data by country

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Almanacs

• Annual reference containing lists, charts and
  tables of factual and statistical information.
• Aggregator (not creator) of information from a
  large number of sources.

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Almanacs

•  General World Almanac Information Please
  Encyclopedia Britannica Almanac
• Subject specific Hispanic Almanac, Sports
  Almanac, Texas Almanac
• Older volumes in stacks (JPL)
• Online World Almanac (UTSA subscription)

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UCAT Reference books with statistics

• Do expert keywords searches using "statistics"
• To narrow limit to "reference"
• Skey Latin America" and skey statistics
• Skey "Hispanic Americans" and population and
  statistics
• (skey education or skey school?) and skey
  statistics
• labor and statistics and periodicals
• almanac and sports
• almanac and "Hispanic Americans"

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netLibrary (UTSA subscription)

• Online versions of books and reference books
• lib.utsa.edu Databases A-Z
• Keyword education and statistics
• Almanac of American Education
• Education Statistics of the United States

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International Statistics

• See Country Statistics Subject Guide
• lib.utsa.edu Subject Guides
• World Fact Book (CIA) (Internet)
• Europa World Year Book (print)

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WDI Online

• World Development Indicators Online
• From World Bank
• Easy to create tables
• UTSA Database WDI

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U.S. Census Bureau

• www.census.gov
• Especially note reports on right
• Population Finder
• Area Breakdowns
• Economic Indicators

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LexisNexis Statistical(UTSA Subscription
database)

• American Statistics Index (ASI)
• Index to International Statistics (IIS)
• Statistical Reference Index (SRI)
• Some full text online
• All documents available on microfiche at JPL
• Library Walk in class on April 5, 1100

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LexisNexis Statisticalaka Statistical Universe

• American Statistics Index (ASI)
• A comprehensive index to statistical publication
  of the U.S. Government (1974 to present).
• Index to International Statistics (IIS)
• Index to English-language statistical
  publications of 90 major intergovernmental
  organizations such as the UN, OECD, OAS, and
  European Economic Community.
• Statistical Reference Index (SRI)
• Index to statistics in publications issued by
  private agencies, state agencies, and academic
  institutions.

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Search Abstracts

• Formats available
• PDF (full document)
• Good choice for printing
• Using select feature in pdf
• GIF (individual tables)
• Also Excel, comma delimited

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UTSA Subject Guides

• Country Statistics
• Economics and Finance
• U.S. Government Information
• Education
• Criminal Justice
• http//lib.utsa.edu/Research/Subjects

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Internet searching

• A lot of government information is free on the
  web. (Your taxes pay for it)
• Limiting to .gov in advanced search is good idea
  in Google

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Need Help?

• Librarians and library staff want to help you
• In person at Reference Desk
• Phone
• Chat
• Email
• Individual consultations