Information about locating, using, and interpreting data and statistics

Locating Data

• Accessing Census Data Tutorial from the Minnesota Department of Administration [pdf]
• Accessing Economic Census Data from the U.S. Census Bureau [pdf]
• Census 2000: Tools and Data from the MN State Demographic Center
• Guide to Historical Population and Housing Census Statistics and Maps for Small Area Geography from the UNC Libraries
• Find it! in DOL from the U.S. Department of Labor
  • Get Detailed Statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
• 2005 Data Guide from North Dakota KIDS COUNT

Information About Specific Data Sources:

• American Community Survey
  • American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau
    • 2006 Data Users Handbook [pdf]
    • About the ACS
  • American Community Survey: Bonanza or Booby Trap from the Minnesota Department of Administration
• The American Community Survey from the Missouri Census Data Center
  • 10 Things to Know About the American Community Survey (2005 Edition)
• About NCES from the National Center for Education Statistics
• About Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS):
  • About Census 2000 PUMS from the IN Business Research Center
  • About ACS PUMS from the U.S. Census Bureau
• About the SAHIE Program from the U.S. Census Bureau, SAHIE Program
• County Business Patterns FAQs from the U.S. Census Bureau
  • Bridge Between NAICS and SIC from the U.S. Census Bureau
  • Overview from the NC State Data Center
• Economic Research Service from the U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Guide to the 2002 Economic Census from the U.S. Census Bureau
• National Center for Health Statistics Data Warehouse FAQs
  • NCHS Overview from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics
• Overview of the Population Estimates Program from the U.S. Census Bureau
• Overview of the SAIPE Program from the U.S. Census Bureau
• Using American FactFinder from the U.S. Census Bureau:
  • Census 2000: American FactFinder Workshop Online from the UNC Libraries
  • Finding City and Census Tract Data in American FactFinder from Spokane Falls Community College [doc]
  • Guide to American FactFinder Geography and Functionality from the UNC Libraries
  • Navigating the Census Bureau's American FactFinder Website from the UNC Libraries
• Using Interactive Data Sites as a Tool for Classroom Learning (Presentations for the MSS Annual Meeting, April 2007):
  1. Using the American Community Survey as a Teaching Tool (download PowerPoint file)
  2. Using KIDS COUNT Data to Examine Child Well-Being in Your State (download PowerPoint file)
  3. General Social Survey: Examining Changes in the Nation's Attitudes(download PowerPoint file)

Understanding/Interpreting Data and Statistics:

• Basic Explanation of Confidence Intervals from the U.S. Census Bureau, SAIPE Program
• Correlation from Creative Research Systems
• Data Interpretation Guide (excerpt from North Dakota KIDS COUNT 2005 Data Guide)
• How to Understand Statistics from the BBC's h2g2
• Hyperstat Online from David Lane at Rice University
• Interpreting Population Pyramids (excerpt from NDSDC North Dakota Population Projections document)
• Reading and Writing Statistics from the UNC
• Statistical Significance from Creative Research Systems
• Statistics Every Writer Should Know from Robert Niles at the USC
• Those Scary Statistics from Craig Hospital
• Using Statistics from Purdue University

Research Methods:

• Analyzing Survey Data from University of FL Extension
• Elements of Survey Design from Creative Research Systems
• Introduction to Survey Methodology and Design from Worcester Polytechnic Institution
• Online Dictionary of the Social Sciences from Athabasca University
• Program Development and Evaluation from University of WI Extension
  • Evaluation from University of WI Extension
    • Questionnaire Design: Asking questions with a purpose [pdf]
    • Sampling [pdf]
    • Analyzing Quantitative Data [pdf]
    • Analyzing Qualitative Data [pdf]
• Survey Design Considerations from WebSurveyor [pdf]
• Survey Tool Kit from Pearson
• Web Center for Social Research Methods from Cornell University

Sampling Design:

• Determining Sample Size from University of FL Extension
• Sample Size and Confidence Interval Calculator from Pearson
• Sample Size Calculator from MaCorr Research Solutions Online
• Sample Size Calculator from Creative Research Systems
• Sampling Issues: Nonresponse from University of FL Extension
• Sampling the Evidence of Extension Program Impact from University of FL Extension

Writing Resources

• Babel Fish Translation from Altavista
• Basic Elements of English Grammar Guide from the University of Calgary
• Citation Styles for Research Papers from Long Island University
• Dictionary.com from Lexico Publishing Group
• OWL - Online Writing Lab from Purdue University
  • Handouts and Materials for Students and Teachers
  • APA Formatting and Style Guide
  • MLA Formatting and Style Guide
• Plagiarism: What it is and how to recognize and avoid it from Indiana University
• Program Development and Evaluation from University of WI Extension
  • Evaluation from University of WI Extension
    • Using Graphics to Report Evaluation Results [pdf]
• Strategic Frame Analysis from the Frameworks Institute

Definitions and Terms

• Glossary of Terms from the U.S. Census Bureau, American FactFinder
• Glossary from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Definitions of Commonly Used Terms from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics
• Poverty Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • FAQs
  • Poverty Thresholds from the U.S. Census Bureau
• Rural/Urban/Metro/Nonmetro and Frontier Discussion from the NDSDC
• Understanding Census 2000 Race and Ethnicity Variables from the National Center for Education Statistics

Case Studies

• Case Study #2 (June 2007): Population and Housing - Moving in Different Directions from NDSDC
• Case Study #1 (July 2006): North Dakota Case Study: Perceived Income and Poverty Contradiction from NDSDC