Statistics

1
Statistics

• LIB 120
• Amanda Izenstark

2
Statistics

• "There are three kinds of lies lies, damned lies
  and statistics."
• Mark Twain attributes this remark to Benjamin
  Disraeli (quoted in Columbia Dictionary of
  Quotations, p. 870)

3
What are Statistics?

• 1) Science that deals with the collection,
  classification, analyses and interpretation of
  numerical facts or data.
• 2) Actual facts or data.
• Statistics are used to either prove and support
  research or to refute it.

4
Are You a Statistic?

• There are a lot of data about you out there
• Social Security Number
• Zip Code
• Area Code
• Height
• Weight
• Library barcode number
• Grade point average

5
Two Types and Uses of Statistics

• Descriptive statistics is the use of numbers to
  summarize information that is known about some
  situation
• Example Random sample of students was taken in a
  large university campus in Rhode Island. Of
  those questioned, 15 used Five Star notebooks
  for their course note taking.

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Two Types and Uses of Statistics

• Statistical inference is the use of numbers to
  give numerical information about larger groups
  than those from which the original raw data were
  taken.
• Example 15 of university students in New
  England capital cities use Five Star Notebooks.
• Take your sample information and apply it to a
  broader group.

7
Producers of Statistics

• Government Agencies (US and Foreign)
• The Census Bureau
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics
• National Center for Education Statistics
• National Center for Health Statistics
• The Bureau of Justice Statistics
• and so on

8
Producers of Statistics

• Inter-Governmental Organizations (IGOs)
• United Nations
• World Bank / International Monetary Fund
• OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and
  Development)

9
Producers of Statistics

• Professional / Trade Industry / Special
  Interest Organizations
• American Medical Association
• American Cancer Society
• National Restaurant Association
• Toy Manufacturers Association
• Greenpeace
• Save the Bay

10
Finding Statistics

• Think about who might have the information.
• The Government?
• An organization?
• A researcher?

11
Death Penalty Statistics

• Who might have these?
• US Government
• State Governments (in states with the death
  penalty)
• Pro- and Anti- death penalty organizations

12
Where to Start?

• The Statistical Abstract of the United States
• Published annually since 1879 by the United
  States government.
• Presents statistics on all different topics from
  many different sources.
• Chances are, you will find what youre looking
  for there, or close to it!

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Statistical Abstract of the United States

• Latest year in paper at the Reference Desk
• Prior years in the Serial Stacks
• Also online! http//www.census.gov

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Statistical Abstract of the United States

• Will give you a list of statistics
• But will also lead you to their sources.
• Look for the Source citation at the bottom of
  each table.
• Search the HELIN catalog (or your favorite search
  engine) for the title of the source.

15
Other Sources of Statistics

• Statistics Sources at Ref. Z7551 .S84,
  published annually. When you look up a topic
  alphabetically, this book will list different
  published sources of statistics on that topic.
• Europa World Year Book -- published annually.
  Latest year at the Reference Desk.
• American Statistics Index -- in Government
  Publications area.

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Finding Statistics, part 2

• Use the Statistical Abstract
• Check the HELIN Catalog
• Do a word search for your topic AND statistics

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Evaluating Statistics

• Look for primary sources of statistics
• Remember secondary sources have repackaged
  and/or interpreted the statistics someone else
  found!
• Ask yourself whether the source of the statistics
  may have a bias?
• Are the statistics up-to-date?

18
Evaluating Statistics

• WHO
• WHAT
• WHEN
• WHERE
• WHY
• HOW

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Evaluating Statistics -- WHO

• WHO produced the statistics?
• WHO was surveyed?
• WHO is being described by the statistics?
• General public?
• A smaller group?

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Evaluating Statistics -- WHAT

• WHAT are the statistics about?
• WHAT do the statistics say?

21
Evaluating Statistics -- WHEN

• WHEN did the researchers do the survey or study?
• WHEN were the statistics published?
• Does this matter for your research?

22
Evaluating Statistics -- WHERE

• WHERE did you find the statistics?
• From a book?
• In a newspaper?
• On the Web?
• WHERE was the study or research done?
• In another state?
• In another country?

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Evaluating Statistics -- WHY

• WHY did the researchers do the study?
• To support a theory?
• To reject a theory?
• WHY were the statistics published?
• To inform and educate? (scholarly)
• To persuade? (propaganda?)

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Evaluating Statistics -- HOW

• HOW did they gather the information?
• Did the researchers survey or study a small
  group?
• Did the researchers make phone calls?
• Did the researchers ask everyone in the entire
  United States? (The Census)