Research Guides: Social Work: Statistics &amp; Reports

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Finding Stats & Research Reports

Other reputable sources besides scholarly articles may be relevant to your research. This page will help you locate reputable resources for statistics and original research published by research foundations and advocacy groups.

Governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) publish relevant research reports, statistics, and other information. These types of publications can be harder to find than journal articles, but the following tips can help you out:

Consider what types of organizations are concerned with the topic (e.g. Families in Transition here in New Hampshire). Do some Google searching if you don't know any by name (e.g. women's research institutes).
If you're researching a topic related to a specific geographic area, find the local and state government websites. Search or browse the websites to find the relevant department(s) related to your topic.
In a Google search, add site:org filetype:pdf to your keywords to search only PDF files from .org websites, which is how organizations and institutions are likely to publish their research reports.

Research Reports

Use the following resources to locate research written by various think tanks, policy institutions, non-governmental organizations, and research foundations.

IssueLab
Research reports from nonprofit organizations.
Think Tank Search
A custom Google search of institutions that do public policy research, from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Internet Crossroads in Social Science Data
Browse or search for projects and institutions publishing research data and reports in the social sciences.

Google Search Tip
Add site:org filetype:pdf to your keywords to search only PDF files from .org websites, which is how organizations and institutions are likely to publish their research reports.

Statistics & Public Opinion Surveys

These resources will help you find statistics from surveys on public opinion.

Statistical Abstract of the U.S. [PROQUEST] This link opens in a new window
Access the Statistical Abstract of the United States (1970 - present). Search one volume at a time or multiple volumes simultaneously. Charts can be downloaded into Excel for further data manipulation.
The ProQuest Statistical Abstract of the United States is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political and economic conditions of the United States from 1970 to today.
Roper iPoll [ROPER CENTER FOR PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH] This link opens in a new window
Largest collection of public opinion poll data with results from 1935 to the present. Roper iPoll contains nearly 800,000 questions and over 23,000 datasets from both U.S. and international polling firms. Surveys cover any number of topics including, social issues, politics, pop culture, international affairs, science, the environment, and much more. When available, results charts, demographic crosstabs and full datasets are provided for immediate download.

Pew Research Center
The Pew Research Center conducts and publishes surveys and social science research in a number of areas including: media. politics, demographics, culture, and societal attitudes. To view their research search the site by topic or publication name.
Association of Religion Data Archive
This organization compiles statistics and surveys gathered and conducted by others onto one website. The focus of these statistics and surveys is religion and spirituality in the United States.
General Social Survey
Developed by the National Opinion Research Center in 1972 to monitor social change in America, the GSS allows researchers to analyze change in U.S. societal opinions over time. Variables are searchable by keyword or by browsing through its alphabetic list of subjects.
International Social Survey
The ISS bridges the U.S. focused GSS with similar surveys conducted by governments and research firms in the international community. Click on the archive and data link to access the ISS.

ICPSR Bibliography of Data-related Literature [UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN] This link opens in a new window
*Use the Google tab and sign in with your Saint Anselm College email address and password. Signing in this way affiliates you with the college’s ICPSR membership, providing you access to all consortium-supported data and related services.

ICPSR (Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research) provides leadership and training in data access, curation, and methods of analysis for the social science research community. This continuously-updated database contains thousands of citations of works using data held in the ICPSR archive.
Disciplines represented include political science, sociology, demography, economics, history, gerontology, criminal justice, public health, foreign policy, terrorism, health and medical care, early education, education, racial and ethnic minorities, psychology, law, substance abuse and mental health, and more.

Most of the datasets in the ICPSR archive are raw data from surveys, censuses, and administrative records. They were originally gathered in research projects and for administrative purposes. ICPSR preserves them because they have value for "secondary analysis" - that is, reexamining old data to address new questions or to employ new analytic methods.

Government Publications & Statistics

Federal Research and Statistics

Statistical Abstract of the U.S. [PROQUEST] This link opens in a new window
Access the Statistical Abstract of the United States (1970 - present). Search one volume at a time or multiple volumes simultaneously. Charts can be downloaded into Excel for further data manipulation.
The ProQuest Statistical Abstract of the United States is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political and economic conditions of the United States from 1970 to today.
HeinOnline This link opens in a new window
Fully searchable, image-based government document and legal research database containing comprehensive coverage from inception of both US statutory materials, US Congressional Documents and the US Congressional Serial Set and more than 2,600 scholarly journals, all of the world's constitutions, all US treaties, collections of classic treatises and presidential documents, and access to the full text of state and federal case law powered by Fastcase.
Includes special collections on Criminal Justice, History, Foreign Relations, Religion and the Law and Women and the Law.

U.S. Census Bureau
Search for demographic data related to population, economy, business, education, employment, families & living, housing, health, income & poverty, international trade, and the public sector, etc.
FAQ: Where can I find social service research and statistics?
An FAQ topic from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, this webpage links out to federal research resources on various social services subtopics.
Office of the Administration for Children & Families: Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation
Under the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the Administration for Children & Families has an office that evaluates its programs. This link goes to their resource library.

New Hampshire Research and Statistics

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Find statistics and reports for different populations: families & children, women, teens, adults, seniors, and people with disabilities.
New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau
Find statistics and reports about New Hampshire's economy and labor market.

Social Work: Statistics & Reports

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