- Government agencies produce statistics on a variety of different topics. Start with a Google search (keyword "statistics" and your topic) with the "site:" command (site:gov) to limit your search to government websites. For example:
- Non-government organizations and academic institutions also produce statistics. Search with statistics and your topic and limit to site:org or site:edu. For example:
Note: Pew Research Center conducts polls and publishes statistics reflecting people's opinions on a variety of topics.
- Published information in our library databases often contain statistics. You may across statistical tables in articles. These two databases are helpful for locating statistics on social issues for debate/controversial topic papers.
- Opposing Viewpoints (Gale in Context)
- CQ Researcher
Above all, don't take statistics at face value. You'll always want to consider the source of the statistic and how the number was created when evaluating its credibility. If you can't find the statistic you're looking for, it might never have been collected!