This guide is intended to help with navigating the statistics and data landscape, with a focus on: 

• data search tools
• data repositories & collections
• data collecting organizations
• social science data sources by topic (in development)

Use the menu on the left to navigate through the different sections of this guide. If you would like assistance locating statistics or data or have any other questions, please email or schedule a consultation. 

Who generates and publishes datasets & statistics?

• Government agencies (best known and most prolific producers)
• Non-governmental organizations
• Independent survey, polling, market research, and data organizations
• Economists and banks
• Corporations
• Universities
• Research centers
• Think tanks and interest groups:  advocacy, religious, and nonprofit organizations
• Publishers and media

What criteria can be used to evaluate statistical sources?

• Who is the author(s)? What are the author(s) qualifications/authority?
• What is the date range of the data and is it intended to be current or historical?
• Who is the intended audience?  What type of publication is the data published in and is the data clearly represented?
• Are the statistics accurate?  Can they be verified?  Is there bias?
• What is the methodology used to gather the statistics?
• What do you know about the validity and reliability of the research tool(s)?