22 Statistics - Searching Specific Formats part 2 (Information Research)
Description
This article is from the Information Research FAQ, by David Novak david@spireproject.com with numerous contributions by others.
22 Statistics - Searching Specific Formats part 2 (Information Research)
Let's move on to specific fields of statistics.
National Statistical Bureau
The Spire Project has a fine html article on the National Statistical
Agencies (http://spireproject.com/bureau.htm). Australia
(www.abs.gov.au), United Kingdom (www.ons.gov.uk), Canada
(www.statcan.ca) and United States (www.census.gov) all have national
statistical agencies. Each organization collects and publishes
statistics on many facets of their respective countries. This article
should simplify your work in searching, selecting and appraising these
sources.
Each statistical agency organizes their statistics in a distinct way.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has an annual Catalogue of
Publications but also a search function, specialized statistical
category guides and several periodicals on new resources. The UK Office
for National Statistics (ONS) has a statistical overview, product
catalog and a search. The US Census Bureau has a collection of very
large publication catalogues, directories and periodicals. Statistics
Canada has several searches, publications and a catalogue
The two further elements to the statistical agencies are the
statistical libraries and the unreported commercial statistics. The ABS
has a dedicated statistical library within each Australian state, and
collections of ABS documents within most public and school libraries.
While the ABS documents within libraries are limited, the ABS libraries
are very detailed with most every publication they create available for
review. This is standard throughout the world.
While publications are sold by each statistical agency, and the
publication catalogues are available online, each agency has data they
sell in other formats. CD-ROMs of popular geographical and statistical
distribution have become very popular, as have small area population
statistics. Some of these services are packaged and sold for specific
purposes, like 4-site by the ABS used in describing business locations.
Even further, statistics can be generated specific to your needs. This
might include ABS import and export statistics for specific
commodities, or specific results from any of their surveys.
Lastly, Usinfostore.com presents a collection of economic indicators as
time-series data. The statistics originate from several government
agencies and is best considered as a value-added service: an intriguing
beneficial trend?
National Statistical Agencies are certainly not the only source of
statistics. They are, however, some of the easiest to access. These
agencies also have several traits that distinguish them from other
information sources.
Firstly, these agencies are legally required to disguise their
statistics to protect the identity of specific businesses and
individuals (with the exception of the Business Register). If there is
only one or two timber exporters in Western Australia, the ABS will not
give you timber exports from Western Australia. Specifics are found in
directories like Kompass, commercial databases, or insider information
(experts and articles by experts).
Secondly, national statistical agencies have a tendency to be old. Most
surveys are not completed annually, but rather every two, three or more
years. Census data is older still. The analysis process also adds a
delay. The ABS tends to take a year or more to collate and analyze
statistics. For Legal and Accounting Services Australia we have '92-'93
statistics, and the '95-96 statistics are due to be released early Nov
1997. Certain statistics like National Indicators are rapidly produced,
but most are not.
Thirdly, national statistical agency publications are detailed - far
more than most statistical publications. Commercial statistical sources
often neglect supporting information like sample size and demographic
breakdown, but expect these publications to include this and more.
Publications may still require further analysis, and may occasionally
come from inferior sources of information, but they are professionally
delivered.
There are several ways to search each agency: (1)
Each agency has thoughtfully provided their catalogue of publications
online. The links are above.
(2) Each agency collects certain information for analysis. It is
helpful to become familiar with the various surveys and information
sources used by each agency.
Besides the Census, the ABS conducts surveys of weekly household
expenditure, agricultural land-use surveys, R&D surveys, and periodic
surveys of various segments of the economy (like Legal and Accounting
Services, Australia 1992-93). They also collect landing cards (tourism
information), export and import documentation, regional hotel occupancy
rates and more. Each statistical agency is similar.
If the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has not yet conducted a
survey of hospital occupancy, they will not have this information.
(3) Agencies publish guides to information on a particular topic. They
also publish various newsletters of recent releases and annual
yearbooks too.
National Statistical Agencies are not the only statistics, nor
particularly the best. They are, however, often the best source for
demographic data, widely used by government and frequently re-published
in other government documents. These agencies also provide a range of
sample and national summary data directly from their website. Online
statistics have not yet been organized, so I rather expect browsing the
website for free information will be unwise, unless you are looking for
simple national data.
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