Places, data, and understanding:
Doing place-based research

 

 

Simon Elichko (they/them)

Social Sciences & Data Librarian

What does data represent?

screenshot of census americans twitter

Census Americans

What can we learn about?

groups of people

neighborhoods

cities

metropolitan areas

counties

states

 

} 

geographies

When should we place limits?

Considerations:
 

• Identifiability

• Sensitivity

• Risk

(ethical practice + data use)

Throughout the process:

• Collecting

• Curating (describing)

• Representing (analysis)

• Sharing (publishing)

Where can you look for data?

Sources of data
- Easiest to most difficult
- Tradeoff between ease and flexibility/control

  • Published statistics from reports, news 

  • Curated data tools
        // e.g. Social Explorer and Policy Map

  • Creating custom data tables  
       // e.g. Data.Census.gov

  • Working with raw data & microdata
       // e.g. Integrated Public Use Microdata (IPUMS)

Research guide: bit.ly/data-stats-swat-libraries


bit.ly/place-data-worksheet

Understanding Census tract numbers

Some types of stories you

can find in data:

• Changes over Time

• Interesting Factoids

• Surprising Connections

• Personal Experiences

• Revealing Comparisons

Getting help with data & research

Meet with Simon

Schedule at bit.ly/selichk1

Email them at selichk1@swarthmore.edu

(including if you need an alternative meeting time)

 

Use the chat in Tripod to get help from librarians and Research & Information Associates (RIAs).

 

You can also email librarian@swarthmore.edu.