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Data and Statistics Guide

Evaluating Statistics and Data

  • Who?

    Who is the creator of the statistics? What is the purpose for creating this information?

  • What?

    What indicators are most interesting? What population is most relevant? What figure is being displayed (i.e., is it a percentage, an average, an index number?)

  • When?

    When were the statistics compiled? What time frame do the statistics cover? What is the periodicity?

  • Where?

    Which geographies are most appropriate to help answer the research question? Do students need state level or county level statistics? Which levels are realistically available?

  • How?

    How can the statistics be accessed? Does the library have the resources on hand? Do the statistics need to be accessed from another library or website?


Source: ACRL Keeping Up with… Statistical Literacy