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Tuesday, March 4, 2008

March 2008 topic - Statistics

Introduction
 Statistics are available on an enormous variety of topics. Statistics are gathered because someone has determined a need or use for the information. Statistics are gathered on international, national, regional, state, and local levels. Because it takes time to collect, analyze, and tabulate data, statistics may be reported months or years after they have been collected.

The questions posed in the following scavenger hunts are representative of basic statistical questions covering health, business, economy, and labor statistics. Crime, vital statistics, population and demographic, and education are additional areas in which frequent statistical questions occur. Due to the time frame of this topic, only health, business, economy, and labor questions were included.

When trying to find statistical data, always keep in mind federal and state government resources. Governmental agencies collect, report, and use data to determine needs and services for communities.

Sources for the Statistics Scavenger Hunt

Bureau of Labor Statistics
http://stats.bls.gov/

This unit of the United States Department of Labor is the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics including Employment and Unemployment Data. Important programs and surveys include:

National Compensation Survey: The National Compensation Survey (NCS) provides detailed occupational earnings for metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, broad geographic regions, and on a national basis.

Consumer Price Indexes: Consumer Price Indexes (CPI) program produces monthly data on changes in the prices paid by urban consumers for a representative basket of goods and services.

Producer Price Index: The Producer Price Index (PPI) program measures the average change over time in the selling prices received by domestic producers for their output.

Energy Information Administration
http://www.eia.doe.gov/

This statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Energy collects and disseminates data on energy reserves, production, consumption, distribution, prices, technology, and related international, economic and financial matters. Coverage of EIA’s programs includes data on coal, petroleum, natural gas, electric and nuclear energy.

National Center for Health Statistics
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/Default.htm

The Faststats site provides quick access to statistics on topics of public health importance and is organized alphabetically. Links are provided to publications that include the statistics presented, to sources of more data, and to related web pages.

Statistical Abstract of the United States (Paper version--REF 317.3 S797)

2008 edition available online: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/index.html

(on 1/28/08 unable to access 2007 edition online via Census.gov)

The Statistical Abstract of the United States, published since 1878, is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. Use the Abstract as a convenient volume for statistical reference, and as a guide to sources of more information both in print and on the Web. Sources of data include the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and many other Federal agencies and private organizations. HPL has the Statistical Abstract in paper dating back to 1907 in Government Documents.

Statistical Universe database

LexisNexis Statistical Universe enables easy access to statistics produced by the U.S. government, major international intergovernmental organizations, professional and trade organizations, commercial publishers, independent research organizations, state government agencies, and universities.

Other resources to explore when time permits:

Fedstats
http://www.fedstats.gov/

FedStats is the gateway to the United States statistical system, providing access to statistical information from more than 100 federal agencies.

Statistical resources on the web
http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/stats.html

This site, compiled by the Documents Center of University of Michigan highlights numerous government statistical resources available through the web.

Questions

Part I: Answer 4 (four) questions. Please document the path you took to get the answer and the resource you used. We are more interested in your research methods!

  1. What was the average CPI (consumer price index) for 1958 for the United States? (bonus if you can find it for Austria in 1958 for 1982-1984=100 using Statistical Universe)
  2. Using the inflation calculator on the BLS website, see how much buying power $10 the year you were born or graduated from high school has today.
  3. From the May 2006 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, pick 3 occupations and list their mean annual salary.
  4. What is the 2006 annual PPI (producer price index) for vitamins? For paper?
  5. What was the price of regular gasoline the week of 12/24/07? The week of 9/10/01?
  6. What was the price of oil per barrel of Maya 22° (Mexico) and Nigeria Bonny Light 27° on 1/11/08?
  7. Using the CDC’s Fastfacts A to Z, pick a health topic and report its statistics. Please provide the year of the data and the link to the page in your answer.
  8. Can you find me a table showing the mean time spent with a physician? I am interested in the average time an ophthalmologist spends with a patient.
  9. Can you help me find some data that is less than five years old on pipeline incidents in Texas?
  10. Can you help me find a spot coal price for 1/25/08 for Illinois Basin coal?
  11. How many births were there in Texas last year? If you can’t find data for 2007, how old is the data that you can find?

Part II: Using Statistical Abstract of the Unites States: 2007 or 2008, please find the appropriate table for 3 (three) of the following questions. Please give table number and table name, not the answer. (REF 317.3 S797 or online: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/index.html )

  1. How many people in the US speak Tagalog at home?
  2. How many cornea grafts occurred in 2003?
  3. How many military reserve personnel were there in 2004?
  4. How many persons were on the federal food stamp program in Texas in 2005?
  5. How many US Post Offices were there in 2005?
  6. Compare the number of households with computers and internet access in Texas.
  7. What were the average premiums for renters and homeowners insurance for the US? For Texas?
  8. What percentage of the American adult population is considered to be obese? What about Denmark?
  9. How many books were sold in 2005?
  10. How many NCAA rowing teams were there in 2004-05?
To post your answers, please click on your group blog below (assignments are also posted on your group pages):

Amber & Carol's Group

Erin & Jackie's Group

Katie & Paty's Group

Marianne & Saima's Group

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