Finding, Evaluating, and Using Numeric Data [IMS 201, Statistical Literacy] [Electronic Data Center] This presentation will probably involve audience discussion, which will create action items. Use PowerPoint to keep track of these action items during your presentation In Slide Show, click on the right mouse button Select “Meeting Minder” Select the “Action Items” tab Type in action items as they come up Click OK to dismiss this box This will automatically create an Action Item slide at the end of your presentation with your points entered.

What are social science statistical data files? Numeric data produced through polls, surveys, censuses, administrative records, commerce, health administration, etc. Vital resources for research and education in a variety of disciplines concerned with advancing the study of individuals and society. For decades, these data have been encoded, stored, and used primarily in digital form.

Data is everywhere … Watch this video clip at – Write down three keywords that you hear from the video

Quick facts A single number or a handful of numbers Use: Transcribe or print May want to put into spreadsheet May want to generate a simple map Process: find source, locate data items, interpret adequacy, work through selection process. Little emphasis on use. Example: Roper Center for Public Opinion Research

Summary data A profile, a snapshot Use: Summary statistics, map or graph Integrate multiple sources  Composites  Comparisons Process: find sources, locate data items, interpret adequacy, work through selection process, integrate potentially disparate sources. Example: American FactFinder by U.S. Census Bureau

Finding Getting Using Sometimes those three components are very integrated; sometimes those three components are very separate

Finding data Overview of study-level and question-level searching May combine both types of searches while looking for resources. Tour of best catalogs and Web sites for finding data There is no single place to search for data

Question-level searching Compare public opinion of George H.W. Bush’s during the Gulf War and George W. Bush’s during the war on terrorism. What do people think is the most important issue facing the country? Will you vote for Bush or Kerry?

Study-level searching I want the most recent data that describes characteristics of prison inmates in the U.S. What do people in EU countries think about the European Union? I need the March Current Population Survey, as many as possible.

What’s needed to evaluate and use data Data Software to manipulate the data Metadata / codebook Sometimes those three components are very integrated; sometimes those three components are very separate

Evaluating and using data Metadata and codebooks Data quality issues Review of options for using data

Codebook Information on structure, contents, and layout of data file. Column locations and widths for each variable Definitions of different records types Response codes for each variable Codes use to indicate non-response and missing data Exact questions and skip patterns used in a survey Other indications of the content of each variable Many also include frequencies of response (Adapted from Glossary of Social Science Computer and Social Science Data Terms,

Overview of using data User’s level of expertise Institutional support for statistical analysis Keep track of where data came from! example

Statistical Information Resources at Miami LexisNexis Statistical Polls & Surveys Question Database Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center

Easy-to-use data on the Web Perhaps found through Google or list of Internet sites Example: Census American FactFinder, White house Social Statistics Briefing RoomCensus American FactFinder Many different types of data on the Web Some include tools for manipulating data Others simply allow downloading for local manipulation

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