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Definitions
Data are facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis.
Statistics refers to the analysis or products of analysis of data.
For example, if we had a spreadsheet of information about every person in a class -- names, majors, home towns, height, eye color, etc. -- that would be data. If we analyzed that data to find the average height or most common name, those would be statistics.
Statistics
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Statista This link opens in a new window
Statista is one of the leading statistics companies on the internet. With a team of over 200 statisticians, database experts, analysts, and editors, Statista provides users with an innovative and intuitive tool for researching quantitative data, statistics and related information.
This database includes an AI powered tool. For more information see the Statista Research AI information page.
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Social Explorer This link opens in a new window
Online research tool designed to provide quick and easy access to modern and historical census data and demographic information. Users can access this resource as a guest or create a Social Explorer account.
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Statistical Abstracts of the World This link opens in a new windowThe ProQuest Statistical Abstract of the World is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic conditions.
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Statistical Abstract of the United States This link opens in a new windowThe 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.
Data - United States
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ICPSR This link opens in a new window
One of the world's largest repositories of social science data and documentation. Topics covered include sociology, political science, economics, demography, education, child care, health care, crime, minority populations, aging, terrorism, substance abuse, mental health, public policy, and international relations.
Personal account required to download some datasets
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Google Dataset SearchDataset Search enables users to find datasets stored across the Web through a simple keyword search. The tool surfaces information about datasets hosted in thousands of repositories across the Web, making these datasets universally accessible and useful.
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Roper Center For Public Opinion Research This link opens in a new windowCollection of polling data from 1936 to the present that includes US polling firms, social issues, politics, pop culture, international affairs, and more.
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American National Election StudiesTo serve the research needs of social scientists, teachers, students, policy makers and journalists, the ANES produces high quality data from its own surveys on voting, public opinion, and political participation. Must create a free account to download data sets.
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General Social Survey (GSS)Since 1972, the General Social Survey (GSS) has provided politicians, policymakers, and scholars with a clear and unbiased perspective on what Americans think and feel about such issues as national spending priorities, crime and punishment, intergroup relations, and confidence in institutions.
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Federal Election Commission Campaign Finance Reports and DataThe FEC provides copies of filings from candidates, parties and PACs. In addition data files (Some very large) including contributor, candidate, committee and summary data are available for download.
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National Institute on Money in State PoliticsNational Institute on Money in State Politics maintains this database that makes available campaign contributions data by state, sector and individual.
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National Network of State Polls (NNSP)NNSP keeps a data archive of state surveys, and provides access to a wide variety of polling data done in the states.
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The Record of American Democracy 1984-1990ROAD data include election returns, socioeconomic summaries, and demographic measures of the American public at unusually low levels of geographic aggregation. The NSF-supported ROAD project covers every state in the country from 1984 through 1990 (including some off-year elections). One collection of data sets includes every election at and above State House, along with party registration and other variables, in each state for the roughly 170,000 precincts nationwide (about 60 times the number of counties). Another collection has added to these (roughly 30-40) political variables an additional 3,725 variables merged from the 1990 U.S. Census for 47,327 aggregate units (about 15 times the number of counties) about the size one or more cities or towns. These units completely tile the U.S. landmass. This collection also includes geographic boundary files so users can easily draw maps with these data.
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The Statewide Database - the Redistricting Database for the State of California.On this site, you will find voting, registration and geographic datasets for the State of California for statewide elections beginning in 1992. Made available via the University of California Law School.
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Manifesto ProjectThe Manifesto Project provides the scientific community with parties’ policy positions derived from a content analysis of parties’ electoral manifestos. Wide geographic coverage.
Data - International
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UNdata: A World of Information This link opens in a new windowUNdata provides access to a large amount of United Nations data.
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World BankThe World Bank's Data Catalog provides download access to over 2000 indicators arranged by country, indicator and topic. The World Bank is a premier source for data on economic and social issues throughout the world.
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World Health OrganizationThe Global Health Observatory (GHO) is WHO's portal providing access to data and analyses for monitoring the global health situation. It provides critical data and analyses for key health themes, as well as direct access to the full database. The GHO presents data from all WHO programs and provides links to supporting information.
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Pew Global Attitudes ProjectThe Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project conducts public opinion surveys around the world on a broad array of subjects ranging from people’s assessments of their own lives to their views about the current state of the world and important issues of the day. Survey data are released after all reporting is completed, typically two years following completion of the fielding of the survey.
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EuroStatEurostat is the Statistical Office of the European Communities. Its task is to provide the European Union with statistics at European level that enable comparisons between countries and regions
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UN Peacekeeping - ResourcesKey resources produced by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations: reports, statistics, policies and other publications.