Statistics are a collection of analyzed or classified data. While the term statistics is often used interchangeably with data, data is actually the raw information on which statistics are based.
Please note that this guide is meant to help you find statistics, not analyze or interpret them.
This is an example of statistics presented in a bar graph:
Before you begin your research, ask yourself these questions:
For more information on determining what type of statistics you may need, review What Type of Data Do I Need? from Sage Data. Note, Sage uses the terms data and statistics interchangeably.
You can find statistics in many different types of sources in the library and on the web. Here are some of the best places to search:
A list of statistical databases can be found in the library by selecting the Research Databases icon on the library home page and filtering by Datasets and Statistics type. Most of the databases listed have statistics incorporated into their collections. However, Sage Data is entirely devoted to data and statistics.
The federal government compiles the following resources, and we have listed them among our research databases because their topics align with many of our programs. This is not an inclusive list of statistics collected by the federal government. To explore other datasets and statistics compiled by the federal government, visit data.gov.
One strategy for finding statistics and data is to search the academic literature. Reviewing the literature published about your topic may reveal statistical sources used by researchers.
Use the library search box on the main page to start your research, or select subject-specific databases (i.e., Medline, Business Source Complete, ProQuest One Education, etc.) to find statistics related to your topic.
Statistics can often be found in published reports. Some reports may be mentioned in news and journal articles, and you may be able to track these down by searching the organization's or authors' websites. Other specialized library databases may contain reports with statistics that impact the topic. For example, economic, industry, demographic, and company statistics can be found in many business reports. Review the following guides to find these reports:
Have a question or need help?