By Darlene Fichter and Harpreet Aulakh Data Library Services October 2, 2007 Overview of Government Statistics Sociology Principles of Research Design

Outline  Using the Library for Your Assignment  Understanding Official Statistics  Demo and Hands on Practice with Online Statistics  Brief tour of Government Publications

Predict and Investigate  Purpose: –“familiarize yourself with the official statistics …”  4-page report to… 1.Develop a Research Question from the stats 2.Provide the answer from stats 3.Explain how data answers question 4.Read “at least” 2 journal articles and incorporate finds/arguments into report [ Sociological Abstracts ]

Statistics Canada  Government agency tasked with producing statistics on Canada’s population, economy, population, culture and society  Governed by Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada 1985Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada 1985  Regularly been recognized as the best statistics agency in the world (The Economist) StatsCan or StatCan

Statistics Canada  Conducts 350 surveys each year on all aspects of Canadian life  Country-wide census every five years

Three Ways  Print –Government Publications (GovPubs) 2 nd Floor  Downloadable Print (PDF) –  Online –CANSIM, E-Stat etc.

Terms and Terminology  Your terms vs. Statistics Canada terms –Statistics Canada Thesaurus – Internet Shopping or Shopping online Electronic Commerce

Print Publications - Government Publications 2 nd Floor  CA1 BS Canadian Economic Observations  CA1 BS Historical Labour Force Statistics  CA1 BS Education Quarterly Review  CA1 BS Health Reports  CA1 BS Mortality – List of Causes

Print Publications - Reference Stacks, First Floor  CA1 BS 85 C205 Canadian Crime Statistics  CA1 BS 89 C503D Women in Canada  CA1 BS 91-C213 Annual Demographic Statistics

Census – Print & Online Versions  2001 Census Ref CA1 BTD  1996 Census Gov Pub CA1 BTC  1991 CensusGov Pub CA1 BTB 1861 Census Gov Pubs CA 1 BSB … 1986 Census Gov Pubs CA1 BTA

Strategies  Find a report of interest. Look at the tables and footnotes to see the sources of data. They often list a CANSIM number or a Census publication. –Library Home Page  Subject pages –Sociology  Start with “most current” print, work backwards in print and forwards online  In Library’s Catalogue use… “Word” option –“Statistics Canada” and additional terms

No Clue Where to Start?  Browse: –Index of the Statistics Canada Catalogue Ref Stacks CA1 BS11 C204 –Statistics Canada Daily  / / –Browse the Gov Pubs Stats

Try This Publication  Canadian Social Trends –Articles and statistical tables that look at the social, economic, and demographic trends that affect Canadians.  XIE/ XIE.html XIE/ XIE.html

Talk to a Librarian  Reference Desk – Murray Library

Finding the Handouts Online  Data Library Services –Blog on the right hand side –Post links to the three handouts

Questions?