لخّصلي

Data Sources.Although data on the smallest local units of analysis (such as the neighborhood or census tract) are certainly powerful in terms of supporting the argument that something must be done, data on the same conditions or problems at the county, state, or national levels can also be useful in providing a basis of comparison against which local figures can be judged.Additional statis- tical references based on census data include USA Counties, Statistical Abstract of the United States, and the State and Metropolitan Area Data Book, all of which can be accessed online.Other sources include local social service agencies, the United Way, community councils, centralized data-collection resource centers, centralized in- formation and referral agencies, law-enforcement agencies, hospitals, and school district offices.This resource includes such data categories (for both counties and cities) as racial/ethnic breakdown, age, gender, the number of people with less than a high school education, and the number of people in poverty.

Data Sources. Basic to all statistical support is the knowledge of the number of people
in various demographic categories (e.g., gender, age, racial, or ethnic groups). Valuable
information of this type is available in the County and City Data Book published by the U.S.
Bureau of the Census. As with many census publications, it is available for free online at
the Bureau of the Census website. This resource includes such data categories (for both
counties and cities) as racial/ethnic breakdown, age, gender, the number of people with
less than a high school education, and the number of people in poverty. Additional statis-
tical references based on census data include USA Counties, Statistical Abstract of the United
States, and the State and Metropolitan Area Data Book, all of which can be accessed online.
State and/or county departments of social services, health, mental health, and
corrections often collect data that can be useful in documenting the existence of social
conditions or problems. Other sources include local social service agencies, the United
Way, community councils, centralized data-collection resource centers, centralized in-
formation and referral agencies, law-enforcement agencies, hospitals, and school district
offices. The process of tracking down information is often similar to a scavenger hunt,
where one clue leads to another until a point is reached where the quantity and quality
of supportive data collected are sufficient to allow the persons initiating change to make
their case.
In collecting supporting data, the change agent should think in terms of the entire
“circle” of information needed to understand the presenting problem or condition. This
means that data collection will not necessarily be limited to the local community, neigh-
borhood, or organization that is the focus of the change effort. Although data on the
smallest local units of analysis (such as the neighborhood or census tract) are certainly
powerful in terms of supporting the argument that something must be done, data on the
same conditions or problems at the county, state, or national levels can also be useful in
providing a basis of comparison against which local figures can be judged.