Search Strategy 1: Identify potential producers
Ask yourself: Who might collect or publish this type of information?
These are some of the main types of producers of statistical information: government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. Oftentimes, they will publish reports or research via their websites or social media.
Search Strategy 2: Look at published literature
Look for statistics reported in journal, news, and magazine articles.
Search Strategy 3: Online searches
Think about where to search and which keywords to use. Use search engines and the library catalog. Add in terms like “data” or “statistics” with a relevant topic.
Use advanced search features such as the “site:” command which allows you to limit your search to a certain website or domain. For example, if you think that the government is a likely producer of the statistics you need end your search with the command “site:.gov” to only search within government websites.