Data & Statistics: Getting Started

"Looking for data" can mean different things to different researchers in academic libraries. Possibilities might include:

• Searching for data that has already been analyzed and calculated into statistics and published in a report or through an official website. This might also include data tables, data dashboards, or data visualizations.
  • If this is what you need, you are in the right place! This research guide highlights data and statistics primarily from governmental or intergovernmental organizations to fit this scenario.

Other possibilities:

• Looking for scholarly articles where data was collected and analyzed.
  • This kind of empirical research or evidence-based research can be found in science and/or social science research guides and databases. 

• Looking for large datasets or data files to download and analyze independently with computer software.
  • This research guide will provide some links to datasets for download. The Open Data guide specifically highlights data sets for download and computational research.

► ► ► Confused? Have questions? Contact the librarians listed on this research guide for help or use Ask a Librarian.