Statistical Data: 1. Finding aid

These finding aids provide access to statistics by topic or keyword.

Bowdoin Library guides

• Bowdoin Library librarians have customized this guide to finding statistics for you.
• Core Databases in Statistics available at Bowdoin Library.

Guides

• A Guide to Statistics on Historical Trends in Income Inequality, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
• Guide to HUD user data sets and Dataset Reference Guide, Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
• A reporter’s guide to education statistics: Where to find data, what questions to ask, what to be aware of when interpreting results, Sense About Science USA

Indexes

• ProQuest Statistical Insight. 100,000 U.S. government publications from 1973, state and private sources from 1980, and approximately 2000 documents from international organizations from 1983. Incorporates ASI subject and keyword searching. Full text or web links provided for some citations. Includes Statistical Abstract.

Gateways

• data.gov, "data, tools, and resources to conduct research, develop web and mobile applications, design data visualizations, and more." "Data.gov is primarily a federal open government data site. However, state, local, and tribal governments can also syndicate metadata describing their open data resources on Data.gov for greater discoverability."
• Central Data Catalog, International Household Survey Network. A catalog of almost 7000 surveys and over 4.1 million variables. The catalog can be keyword searched and can be filtered by country and by year(s).
• Data on the Net. "363 Internet sites of numeric Social Science statistical data, data catalogs, data libraries, social science gateways, addresses and more."
• Princeton University's Data and Statistical Services' guide to finding data includes freely available data.
• Some states have data gateways that may be listed in State Agency Databases. For Maine, try Maine.gov DataShare.

Strategy 1. Start with a finding aid.

Strategy 2. Start with a statistical compendium. Details

Strategy 3. Start with an agency or organization. Details

Strategy 4. Look for relevant statistics reported in books or journal or newspaper articles. Find the source of those statistics.

Strategy 5. Search the Internet using your favorite search engine.