1. How to use LexisNexis Statistical Westwood College Library February 2008

2. What is LexisNexis Statistical? Approximately 100,000 tables of data updated monthly Searches statistical reports from federal agencies, states, universities, non-profits and private research organizations Scope & Coverage: ▫ 250+ federal and state governments & agencies ▫ 100+ international organizations ▫ 500+ private and academic sources ▫ Retail and wholesale trade, interest rates, economics, energy, environment, agriculture, crime, population, demographics and other social indicators How to get into LexisNexis Statistical: From your course: Student Resources > Library > LexisNexis Statistical From the eCollege portal: Library > LexisNexis Statistical

3. Tips for Using Federal & State Statistics Definitions vary among agencies ▫ Tip: Try a variety of key words Reporting Intervals and time frames vary Time delay in reporting ▫ The most current data may be several years old Population or sample response issues ▫ Sampling methods vary ▫ Non-response bias: those unlikely to respond are therefore not counted

4. LexisNexis Statistical Start Page Click on “Search Tables” to get started

5. Video game* Type search terms here. Use * for alternate spellings. These options narrow your results. Let’s leave them blank for now.

6. Note : 44 results Let’s have a look at this one. Results are returned by coverage date - most recent coverage date first

7. Report options include print, email, a GIF image and often an Excel spreadsheet. The spreadsheet link is at the bottom of the table (see next slide).

8. Here is a GIF image of the table. It can be saved, printed or copied into a document. Remember to cite your source!

9. The Excel format link is at the bottom of the table. Once you download the data, you can use it to create your own calculations and graphics. Remember to cite your source!

10. Click home to start a new search.

11. x Let’s look for violent crime statistics by state.

12. We could add a term to the FOCUS box to narrow this search. It would probably reduce the number of results.

13. Let’s have a look at this one.

14. Here is a link to the entire published source. If I wanted more statistics like this, the full document would be a great place to check.

15. It’s not pretty, but it is full-text. Citation information is on this page and links to data tables begin as you scroll down (see next slide).

16. The contents of the source includes links to the data tables

17. Citing LexisNexis Statistical Individual Table, APA Format: “Immigrants Admitted, by Class of Admission: 1980-1994,” No. 6, p. 11. In Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1996. Retrieved February 15, 2008 from LexisNexis Statistical database. Individual Table, MLA Format: “Immigrants Admitted, by Class of Admission: 1980-1994,” No. 6, p. 11. Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1996. LexisNexis Statistical. Westwood College Library Online. February 15, 2008. Full Publication, APA Format: U.S. Department of Justice. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics. 2000. Retrieved February 15, 2008 from LexisNexis Statistical database. Full Publication, MLA Format: U.S. Department of Justice. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics. 2000. LexisNexis Statistical. Westwood College Library Online. February 15, 2008.

18. Click here for help and tips on finding popular statistics

19. Thank you! Happy data gathering!