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Social Science Data and Statistics

Subject specialist
Katharin Peter
kpeter@usc.edu
(213) 740 1700

Research help

Collection overview

The Social Science Data and Statistics collection is located primarily in the Von KleinSmid Center Library for Applied Social Sciences and consists of national and international statistical reports, compendia and indexes. In addition, CD-ROM data files and government publications are housed in the Von KleinSmid Center Library and the Grand Avenue Library. The USC Library maintains subscriptions to web-based statistic generators and compilations, such as the World Development Indicators and RAND California, as well as membership in the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), an archive of digital social science datasets available for secondary analysis.

Resources

Databases

  • Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) The EIU's Country Reports section provides an overview of political and economic trends including detailed statistics on 195 countries. Updated monthly.
  • LexisNexis Statistical Universe Statistical Universe allows users to search abstracts and tables of statistical publications of federal, state, and intergovernmental agencies and organizations and provides direct access to full-text tables.
  • RAND California The California Statistics section of the RAND California database provides statistical tables on business and economics, population and demographics, education, health, government finance, politics, and public opinion.
  • World Development Indicators The World Bank's World Development Indicators provides direct access to more than 700 development  indicators, with time series for 208 countries and 18 country groups from 1960 to 2006.

Data Archives

  • CESSDA Portal Council of European Social Science Data Archives (CESSDA) is "a gateway to many kinds of research data and metadata, including sociological surveys, election studies, longitudinal studies, opinion polls, and census data."
  • ICPSR The Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research is an archive of social science data with holdings that cover a range of social science subject areas including population, economics, education, health, social and political behavior, social and political attitudes, history, crime, aging, and substance abuse. Data files and related documentation can be downloaded directly or, for select studies, analyzed online. First time users will need to create an account (see the Data Use Tutorial). ICPSR also hosts a number of specialized data archives including:
  • Odum Institute Data archive of the Odum Institute for Research in Social Science, University of North Carolina, "one of the oldest and largest archives of machine-readable data in the U.S."
  • Roper Center iPOLL The Roper Center maintains an archive of public opinion survey data. Allows users to search survey questions or download data directly. Users will need to enter their USC email address to access data.

Official Statistical Sources

United States Statistics Bureaus and Agencies

International and Intergovernmental Organizations

  • Eurostat Website of the Statistical Office of the European Communities.  Provides access to download predefined tables and data covering key EU policies; general and regional statistics; economy and finance; population and social conditions; industry, trade and services; agriculture and fisheries; external trade; transport; environment and energy; and science and technology.  PDF access to Eurostat Yearbook and other statistical compendiums.
  • International Statistical Agencies List compiled by the United States Census Bureau.
  • SourceOECD SourceOECD is the publications portal of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Provides full-text access to statistical annuals and periodicals.
  • UNESCO Data Centre The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) collects the data for more than 200 countries from Member States and international organizations. The UIS Data Centre contains over 1,000 types of indicators and raw data on education, literacy, science and technology, culture and communication and allows users to download predefined tables or build their own. Summary data (profiles and global rankings) are also available.
  • United Nations Statistics Division Statistics Division of the United Nations, provides access to predefined tables of international demographic and social statistics via UN Data and the United Nations Common Database. PDF access to Demographic Yearbook and other statistical compendiums.
  • World Development Indicators The World Bank's World Development Indicators provides direct access to more than 700 development  indicators, with time series for 208 countries and 18 country groups from 1960 to 2006.

Online Tools

  • Historical Census Data Browser of the University of Virginia, Geospatial and Statistical Data Center provides access to summary level data collected by the U.S. Census from 1790 to 1960. Database generates longitudinal tables and maps.
  • Social Explorer Social Explorer allows users to create maps and generate reports based on demographic data from the United States Census (1940 to 2000).

Indexes

  • American Statistics Index Frequently updated guide and index to the statistical publications of the United States Government. Includes publication abstracts. Located in the Von KleinSmid Center Library Reference Section, Call number Z7554.U5A462.
  • Index to International Statistics (IIS) Annual guide to statistical publications of international intergovernmental organizations. Includes publication abstracts. Located in the Von KleinSmid Center Library Reference Section, Call number Z7551.I57.

Instruction services for faculty

To schedule a class taught by the Social Sciences Data specialist, click Request-A-Class. To inquire about tours for guests or orientations for new faculty or students, e-mail the Social Sciences Data specialist