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Finding data & statistics
The terms "data" and "statistics" are often used interchangeably. In practice, they mean different things. Data is the information from which statistics are derived. Statistics is the interpretation of data using data analysis. Statistics are the numbers and percentages found in academic journal articles, magazines, and newspapers. Data sets must be collected or downloaded and independently analyzed.
You need data if:
- You are looking to create new knowledge and draw your own conclusions
- You are going to be using a data analytics tool to analyze the data (examples: Microsoft Excel, ArcGIS, SQL)
You need statistics if:
- You need a quick number or percentage to support an argument in a research paper
- The information that you're looking for can be provided in a table, chart, or other visualization
Adapted from Morelock, K. (2018, February 2). Finding statistics & data (A how-to guide).Retrieved from DePaul University.
What if my data is in PDF format?
Adobe Acrobat Pro allows users to convert a machine-readable PDF into an Excel spreadsheet.
With the PDF open, choose Select File > Save As > Spreadsheet > Microsoft Excel Workbook.
What if I want to find data myself?
Try these specialized search engines.
- KaggleSearch datasets by filetype, topic, currency, or tag (crime, business, internet)
- ZanranYou'll need to sign up for a free account to download a dataset.
- WolframAlphaA computational search engine to compare nutritional information in grapes, pineapples and pears. To use the data from a query, click Plaintext (copyable).
- Data Finder- Population Reference BureauDemographic and health information. Hundreds of variables for U.S., other countries.
Resources for datasets
JMU & Harrisonburg data
- James Madison University - Office of Institutional ResearchThis office tracks enrollment, degree completion, financial aid, etc.
- Harrisonburg VA: DataUSAClick View Data to download data as a .csv file.
- Harrisonburg VA: Yearly Crime StatisticsUpdated annually by the Harrisonburg Police Department.
- Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service: Demographics Research CenterCreates population estimates that are used throughout Virginia for decision-making and fund allocation
Business & industry data
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Wage Data by Area & OccupationSearch for occupational differences in earnings around the U.S.
- Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs (ASE)Data about the characteristics of businesses and their owners.
- Virginia Labor Market InformationEconomic and demographic data in Virginia; compare over time and between regions.
- Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service: Center for Economic Policy StudiesLocal and sales tax data.
Health & safety data
- Virginia Department of Health Data PortalData on health topics such as smoking and opioid addictions and vital statistics in Virginia.
- Virginia Highway Safety Crash dataExplore Crash Location Map by Jurisdiction, and download data.
- Kaiser Family Foundation - State Data ResourcesCompare health care expenditures by state.
- CDC WonderQuery causes of death, incidence of diseases, or births by month.
Politics
- Virginia Department of ElectionsData for campaign finance disclosure, election results, election winners, and election result changes.
- Vital Statistics on CongressData on the composition of membership, formal procedures, party structure, and staffing.
- American National Elections SurveyData from surveys on voting, public opinion, and political participation. Requires creating a free account.
Other government data
- US Data & Statistics This link opens in a new windowData about the U.S., such as maps and population, demographic, and economic data.
- American Time Use Survey (Census)Measures the amount of time people spend doing various activities, such as paid work, childcare, volunteering, and socializing.
- FBI's Uniform Crime Data ExplorerStatistics on crime and criminal activities from national, state, and city/county counts.
- National Center for Education StatisticsData about college and universities in the U.S.
- Bureau of Transportation StatisticsData about flight delays, airport and carriers, commuter data, etc.
- Climate data online - NOAAMap past weather and climate data by city, zip code, state.
International data
- World Development Indicators (World Bank)Search by country or indicator.
- UNDataSearch by country (South Africa) and/or topic (water).