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Essential Data Reference Strategies and Tools

Learn how to navigate data references effectively to find the information you need. Discover tips, tools, and techniques to assist users in exploring and clarifying their data queries efficiently. Improve your data research skills and help users make informed decisions.

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Essential Data Reference Strategies and Tools

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  1. Data Reference The data reference interview And… Cool tools and strategies

  2. Tip: Data-reference is not about searching for an answer… • Data reference is often less about searching to find an answer. (That's a statistical reference question.) • Data reference is often more about exploring to find data that will enable users to ask a question.

  3. less expensive restricted data (CONTENT) (COSTS) (ACCESS) (INDEXING) free open statistics more Confidential microdata Aggregate data Scholarly literature eTables Public use microdata databases popular press ePublications Continuum of access

  4. The 5 minute data-reference interview • Help users clarify what will meet their needs • Help users focus on what is most important • Show users how to explore and give them tips on clarifying and focusing

  5. Now, a few words on looking for things. When you go looking for something specific, your chances of finding it are very bad. Because of all the things in the world, you're only looking for one of them. When you go looking for anything at all, your chances of finding it are very good. Because of all the things in the world, you're sure to find some of them. “Daryl Zero” - The Zero Effect (2002) by Jake Kasdan

  6. Tip: Be generous to users • Give them options and let them choose what they need • Make sure you are using the same terms in the same way

  7. Question at the reference desk: I want the census tapes!

  8. From Question Point: I'm looking for race and ethnicity data from the 1980 U.S. census. The ICPSR has these data in a text file that I have been unable to transfer to a usable data format (STATA, Excel, SPSS, SAS). I would love to find this information in a workable form. I'd be glad to help you do this. We have some tools in the library to make it a bit easier and I can show you how to use them or the statistical software of your choice. We also have a product ("geoglytics") that may be useful to you -- it includes 1980 census data and tools for selecting downloading. The library also has the printed census which may be of use if you only need a few numbers. Please email either me or my colleague, Doug Tower, for an appointment so we can discuss the best way to meet your needs.

  9. Tip: Determine if the user needs statistics or data • Do you want want one number? • Are you looking for a fact or figure? • Do you want to know “how many?” • Or… do you want a series of numbers? • Do you want to identify trends, make comparisons, model relationships?

  10. Tip: Ask about statistical software • Will you be using statistical software (not Excel)? • This reinforces that the user and you are looking for data.

  11. Tip: Narrow down what user needs • Social dimension (subjects, variables) • Space (U.S.? International?, country or county or zip code etc…?) • Time (one time ["cross-sectional"] or many ["time-series"], recent or historical) • Aggregate or micro level data

  12. Tip: Narrow down what user needs • "universe": the population to be studied. • The "unit of analysis"

  13. Universe Also called the “population.” This is the entire collection of items or the entire group that a researcher is interested in analyzing. • U.S. Census of Population and Housing: All persons and housing units in the United States

  14. "limited to household population…exclude population living in institutions, college dormitories…"

  15. Foreign-born

  16. Unit of Analysis The basic observable entity being analyzed • Example: • Census Data are collected on housing structures,and individuals, but a researcher can choose different units of analysis: • households • families • individuals • geographies

  17. A example data question "I want to look at how education affects crime."

  18. What do they want?? • “Crime rates” are usually associated with spatial units or a time series • “Education” is an attribute of individuals • Universe: convicted criminals? Crime victims? Cities?

  19. Tip: determine the "unit of analysis" • How you look for “crime rates” and “level of education” can differ depending upon the unit of analysis. • individuals • geographic areas • changes over time • This may give you keywords and terms for searching • This will help you know when you find what you seek!

  20. Now on to the exercise! • In 5 minutes… • Start narrowing and focusing • Give the user hints and tips for exploring • Get a good starting point

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