Data Search Strategies & Resources

Prepared by Ann Marshall for PSC 505, Fall 2010

I. Consult relevant LiteratureUnpacking the Rule of Law: A Review of Judicial Independence Measures

It is perhaps little exaggeration to say that the rule of law has become a sort ofmantra for those interested in promoting human welfare via institutional design. Reflecting its conceptual importance, the number of rule of law measures has increased tremendously in recent years. Haggard et al (2008) report on seven. We review a number of others in this paper.

+ Political Risk Service (PRS)+ World Bank+ Polity II+ Economic Freedom of the World Report+ United States State Department yearly country reports.+ United Nations

I. Consult relevant Literaturee.g. Measure for how liberal/ conservative a district is?

Partisanship and Economic Behavior: Do Partisan Differencesin Economic Forecasts Predict Real Economic Behavior?ALAN S. GERBER and GREGORY A. HUBER Yale University

I. Lit Review for Data: Favorite Search Tools

Tool: Search Strategy Examples:

1. Google Scholar/ Google Books (try: table, country names, years, etc)

2. A single journal: American Political Science Review

3. ISI: 1) top journals 2) interdisciplinary 3) "times cited" 4) "refine by" option

I. Faculty Websites

I. IMF & World Bank Databanks

World Bank:

World Development Indicators: Over 400 indicators, covering 209 countries from 1960 to 2009.

Global Development Finance: Over 200 indicators, over 100 countries from 1970 to 2008.

IMF:

Balance of Payment StatisticsDirection of Trade StatisticsInternational Financial StatisticsGovernment Finance Statistics

1. Select countries2. Select variables3. Select date range

Source OECD(not just OECD countries)

+ 250 books a year+ 18 series of working papers+ 82 statistical databases

Many Search Options:+ Advanced Search+ OECD Stat+ OECD Index of Statistical Variables+ User Guide+ Try searching in Voyager(or try a Google search that includes: site:.sourceoecd.org)

ICPSR:+ Includes academic datasets+ 700 academic/research institutions are members+ Records are in Voyager Catalog

Browse by series:+ Census data+ Current Population Survey+ National Election Study (NES)

Roper – Public Opinion Datasets

1. Roper Center for Public Opinion - iPOLL Survey results, questionnaires, and possible dataset download option for an extensive collection of public opinion polls.

2. Roper Center for Public Opinion - Catalog Public opinion datasets. Studies marked with an X are available for immediate download.

Another option is: Polling the Nations

LexisNexis Academic

1. LexisNexis Statistical Insight - via LexisNexis - Dates: Varies+ Includes 1) Index to International Statistics (IIS) 2) American Statistical Index (ASI) and 3) Statistical Reference Index (SRI)+ Has been around for at least 30-40 years+ An index, with some full text data included.+ Once you identify a data source, use 1) Google 2) Voyager 3) WorldCat

2. LexisNexis Statistical DataSets - via LexisNexis - Dates: Varies+ Interactive interface and browse features+ Fairly new resource

A Few Additional Resources: American Politics

CQ Press:

+ CQ Press Voting and Elections Collection+ CQ Press Congress Collection(note the export option)+ http://library.cqpress.com/index.php+ Contacts at CQ Press

Historical Statistics of the United States: Millennial Edition Dates: 1600's-2000Numerical tables and essays on all quantitative aspects of American history.

A Few Additional Resources:

1. Voyager Catalog

2. WorldCat (Interlibrary Loan)

3. Reference Books (ARBA Online)

4. Guide to Political Science Data(http://annmarshall.info)

5. Data Services CD-ROM Collection:

6. Requesting that the Library purchase datasets

7. Contacting Ann: ann.marshall@rochester.edu or 273-3451