Statistical information often serves as persuasive evidence, because it provides a good way of measuring trends and identifying factors that are related to each other without relying on individual cases. However, you should always make sure that you understand how the statistics that you are using were gathered. Pay attention to the sample size and how members of that sample were selected.
If you need a quick fact, there are several books in our reference section on Level 3 you may want to consult, including The World Almanac and Book of Facts.
Longer and more detailed requests for statistical information, such as the census, may require you to search statistical websites and databases online. Here is a list of useful sources of statistical information. Several of them are provided by the United States government, which maintains some good sources for statistical data on the Web.
- American FactFinder
Population data based on the US Census.
Provides access to the full range of official statistical information produced by the Federal Government.
Statistics for local areas of New York City and New York State. Demographic data from the 1980, 1990, 2000 census. Health, immigration, socio-economic data since the 1990s. Queens College only.
- Social Explorer
United States demographic data, maps, and reports taken from the Federal Census, from 1940 to 2000. Queens College only.
- Statistical Resources on the Web
The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides this list of statistical government documents both in the United States and elsewhere.