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Finding Data and Statistics

Finding Data and Statistics

A wide variety of search techniques can be employed to find data and a statistics you need for your research.

Finding Data

Strategy 1: Search in Data Archives and Repositories

Data archives and repositories either host data directly or offer a list of sources to find data research projects. These archives and repositories can be cross-disciplinary, discipline-specific, or located on college/university websites.

Examples include:

Strategy 2: Identify Statistics that can lead to Data

Finding statistical figures, analyses, and visualizations can also lead to data sources by examining citations in published or non-published works. You can also search for statistics using Google Images and track the image back to the source. Ask yourself:

  • Where does the statistic you found come from?
  • Who created the statistic/visualization?
Strategy 3: Identify Potential Producers or Creators

Considering who may produce or create data can help you create an effective search strategy. When looking for data consider:

  • Who (person, group, agency, etc.) might collect these types of data?
  • Who (person, group, agency, etc.) might publish these types of data?

Examples include:

  • Individuals or groups of researchers
  • Colleges, universities, research organizations
  • Public and/or private companies
  • Non-governmental organizations (foundations, think-tanks, charities, non-profits)
  • U.S. government agencies, international government agencies, state and/or local government agencies

Once you have identified a producer or creator, use a search engine to check if they’ve made the data you need available online.

Strategy 4: Search in Published Literature

Data are often linked directly to, or cited in in discipline-specific research publications. Consider searching for research studies utilizing either primary or secondary analyses to see if the data are publicly available; a good place to start is with NDSU's Library Databases.

You can also contact the author(s) and see if they would be willing to share their data with you.

Finding Statistics

Strategy 1: Conduct Targeted Online Searches

Identify keywords for your search and enter them into a search engine followed by ‘statistics’.

  • If your search isn't successful, think of synonyms for your keywords and try searching again.
  • You can also limit your search to government or educational websites by following your search terms with ‘site:.gov’ or ‘site:.edu’ respectively.

Conduct a Google Image search for your topic and if you find a graph, map, or chart of the information you want, click the image to identify the source.

Strategy 2: Identify Potential Producers or Creators

Considering who may produce or create statistics can help you create an effective search strategy. When looking for statistics consider:

  • Who (person, group, agency, etc.) might collect these types of statistics?
  • Who (person, group, agency, etc.) might publish these types of statistics?

Examples include:

  • Individuals or groups of researchers
  • Colleges, universities, research organizations
  • Public and/or private companies
  • Non-governmental organizations (foundations, think-tanks, charities, non-profits)
  • U.S. government agencies, international government agencies, state and/or local government agencies

Once you have identified a producer or creator, use a search engine to check if they’ve made the statistics you need available online.

Strategy 3: Search in Published Literature

Try to search for research studies that may utilize the type of statistics you need.

A good place to start is to search in NDSU's Library Databases: identify a statistic of interest and track the citation back to the source.

Open Data

Open data is data that is freely available and can be reused and distributed. Increasingly, funding agencies are requiring data resulting from funded research to be made openly available.

Open data is generally characterized by:

  • Availability - The data must be made available at no more than a reasonable reproduction cost
  • Access - The data must be made available to download in a convenient format
  • Redistribution & Reuse - The data must be formatted in a way that allows for free redistribution and reuse

Open data resources: