Information Literacy @ Kent Library Finding data - QM257   Data is scattered in many different places across the Web.  Using quality websites to find current and historical data can make finding those 20 data points you need for your QM257 regression analysis assignment much easier and quicker. The U. S. government collects a wide variety of data.  Use their websites to find your data points. Methods for finding government collected data - 1. Go directly to the following general government website where you can search for data on many different topics. Statistical Abstracts of the United States Hint:  There are numerous ways to mine good data out of this site, here are a few - ► Use the Browse section on the left side of the screen to begin searching in broad topic areas; ► Use Sources of Data: Federal Agency Statistical Reports in the middle of the screen to go directly to statistics compiled by a particular agency; ► Perform a general Search the Abstract search at the top of the left hand column.   2 . Power search using the advanced searching feature in Google to find sources of government data.   ►Example - Entering "gasoline prices and statistics" in the Find results box (circled in red) and limiting the Domain to .gov easily finds U.S. government websites that provide this data.  Hint:  Using the word statistics (the word data sometimes works also) in addition to your topic word or words is the best strategy for finding grouped sets of statistics and data.                   Created by Claudia Ruediger and Michaela Willi Hooper, Kent Library, Southeast Missouri State University. Updated 3/25/2008.