Finding health and social statistics 

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Statistics (data sets and or government data sets) are widely scattered in the published literature and in many web locations. They are not easy to find, nor do they always follow the consistent pattern of an organized collection.

Where should I start to look for statistics?

Catalogue

Databases

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

Local Government Authorities

Internet

Organisations

What questions to ask: When using statistics, ask some basic questions to aid your evaluation of the information that you may find.:

• Is the reporting body reputable?
• How was the information gathered? Is the methodology stated - what instruments were used (ie. surveys, interviews, questionnaires etc)? Was the sample (number/demographic of people involved) stated clearly?
• Are the statistics up-to-date?

Further information: If you want to find further information or online tutorials in locating and using statistics try the following

• How do you understand health related statistics?  
• Finding and using health statistics from the National Library of Medicine USA