Furman University home page
Data & Statistics: Home
The Role of Statistics
"The ideal role of statistics is to be an integral part of the investigative process, to advise, assess, and warn of remaining uncertainties."
-VALERIE MIKÉ
Mike, Valerie. "Statistics: History, Interpretation, and Application." Encyclopedia of Science, Technology, and Ethics, edited by Carl Mitcham, 2005, pp. 1863-1869. Gale eBooks.
Data vs. Statistics
What are Data/Datasets?
A dataset (or ‘data set’) is a collection of raw statistics and information generated by a research study. Datasets produced by government agencies or non-profit organizations are usually available free of charge. However, datasets developed by for-profit companies may be available for a fee.
What are Statistics?
The science of collecting, displaying, and analysing data.
Upton, G., & Cook, I. (2014). Statistics. In A Dictionary of Statistics. : Oxford University Press.
Best Bet
- StatistaStatista is a data aggregation and research platform covering worldwide markets, industries, and societal topics. This resource offers over 1.5 million world-wide statistics along with forecasting on 500 areas from 41 countries for a period of 5 years. Working from more than 20,000 public and private reports, the information is prepared and vetted by a research team of more than 100 analysts in Hamburg, Germany.
Getting help
Statistical data is not always easy to find since there is no single source for this type of information. Statistics may come from a variety of sources.
When searching, keep in mind that the precise information you need may not exist; the data may never have been collected. In other cases, data might be proprietary and held privately; not all data is available to the public. Be flexible and contact a librarian for help.