no data librarian, no cry

No Data Librarian, No Cry:

Supporting Data-Driven Research

Lynda Kellam

Anatomy of a Data Reference Interview

Who?

What?

When?

Where?

How?

W4H?

Who?

Who?

The who cares question

What government agency, educational

institution, or other organization would want

to collect this data?

Not sure? Do a literature search

Government statistical agencies

Statistical Abstract of the United States (new and

old)

Who?

The who cares question

What government agency, educational

institution, or other organization would want

to collect this data?

Not sure? Do a literature search

Government statistical agencies

Statistical Abstract of the United States (new and

old)

Who?

The who cares question

What government agency, educational

institution, or other organization would want

to collect this data?

Not sure? Do a literature search

Government statistical agencies

Statistical Abstract of the United States (new and

old)

Who?

The who cares question

What government agency, educational

institution, or other organization would want

to collect this data?

Not sure? Do a literature search

Government statistical agencies

Statistical Abstract of the United States (new and

old)

Who?

The who cares question

What government agency, educational

institution, or other organization would want

to collect this data?

Not sure? Do a literature search

Government statistical agencies

Statistical Abstract of the United States (new and

old)

What?

What?

What type source are they looking for?

Statistics? Data files? Publications?

What indicators or variables do they need?

What populations are they examining?

Bratton, Michael, E. Gyimah-Boadi, and Robert Mattes. Afrobarometer Round 4: The Quality of Democracy and Governance in 20 African Countries, 2008-

2009. ICPSR33701-v1. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2012-04-13. doi:10.3886/ICPSR33701.v1

Bratton, Michael, E. Gyimah-Boadi, and Robert Mattes. Afrobarometer Round 4: The Quality of Democracy and Governance in 20 African Countries, 2008-

2009. ICPSR33701-v1. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2012-04-13. doi:10.3886/ICPSR33701.v1

What?

What type source are they looking for?

Statistics? Data files? Publications?

What indicators or variables do they need?

Socio-economic

Demographic

Religion

What populations are they examining?

What?

What type source are they looking for?

Statistics? Data files? Publications?

What indicators or variables do they need?

What populations are they examining?

When?

When?

What is the time frame of the request?

Is the time frame realistic?

What is the periodicity for collection (quarterly,

annually, every decade, or infrequently)?

When?

What is the time frame of the request?

Is the time frame realistic?

What is the periodicity for collection (quarterly,

annually, every decade, or infrequently)?

When?

What is the time frame of the request?

Is the time frame realistic?

What is the periodicity for collection (quarterly,

annually, every decade, or infrequently)?

Where?

Where?

What geographic areas are realistically

available?

What are the other possible geographies if the

desired area is not available?

Where?

What geographic areas are realistically

available?

What are the other possible geographies if the

desired area is not available?

How?

How?

Is the data freely available or does it require a

fee?

What are the limitations on the data’s use?

How was the data collected?

How?

Is the data freely available or does it require a

fee?

What are the limitations on the data’s use?

How was the data collected?

How?

Is the data freely available or does it require a

fee?

What are the limitations on the data’s use?

How was the data collected?

Try it out!

I need data on immigration.

Who?

What?

When?

Where

How?

References

Kellam, L., & Peter, K. (2011). Numeric data services

& sources for the general reference librarian. Oxford:

Chandos Publishing.

Peter, K., & Kellam, L. (2013). Data on the run: Data

and statistical sources for reference and instruction.

Retrieved from http://libguides.usc.edu/dataontherun

Specifically from Think Like A Librarian:

http://libguides.usc.edu/content.php?pid=211088&sid=368

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