Research Guide on Statistical Sources

The American Statistical Association (ASA) defines statistics as "the science of learning from data, and of measuring, controlling and communicating uncertainty". (ASA website, accessed December 3, 2018). Statistics therefore analyze, interpret and summarize raw data. Statistics help to determine trends and provide information useful to planning and policy making. Various sectors and agencies collect and provide statistics unique to their field and mandate.

When trying to locate statistics, it is important to keep in mind that agencies have varying schedules for collecting and disseminating statistics. There may be lag times in when the information is reported, and statistics may not always be available for the current year.

The best place to start your search is in the Mason Law Library catalog, which is the gateway to our print and electronic resources. From the catalog, you will be able to conduct title, subject or keyword searches. Helpful search terms are: statistics, plus the sector you are interested in. Example "tax statistics", "energy statistics" "crime statistics".

In the following sections of the guide, we have provided links to the print resources in our collection, as well as the collection of our main campus library, Learning Resources Division.   We have included the relevant call numbers to provide easy access to the items.

We have also provided links to statistical sources, by sector. If you are looking specifically for state and county statistics, you will find that section of the guide helpful.