Finding Statistics and Data

Welcome to the Cornette Library's guide for statistics and data!

This guide provides information on finding datasets and statistics through a variety of resources. The Cornette Library subscribes to databases which contain statistics, data, or datasets. There are also a large number of freely available statistics and datasets on a wide array of subjects.

The Against All Odds:  Inside Statistics videos from Films on Demand provide an overview on the art and science of gathering, organizing, analyzing and drawing conclusions from data.

Statquest!! Video Index by Josh Starmer contains links to playlists and individual videos on such topics as:

• Statistics
• Machine Learning
• Statistical Tests
• The StatQuest Musical Glossary
• Statistics in R

The videos in each category are organized from basic concepts to complicated concepts.

Statistics provide an interpretation and summary of data. They are usually presented as tables, charts, or graphs. They can also be reports of numbers or percentages. A statistic will answer such questions as "how much" or "how many." You should use statistics when you need to make a point or support your argument.

Source:  Statistical Abstracts of the United States

Data is made of up raw numbers, usually with a number of different variables. These numbers often come from research that was conducted as part of a survey or study, and is a primary source. You should look for data when you need raw numbers to complete your own statistics analysis for research. Data is often in the form of a digital data set (or dataset) that can be analyzed using software such as Excel, SPSS, SAS, and so on.

Source:  Capitol Data Portal (click on Explore, then Go To Resource)