Sociology Databases

A wide range of data on human attitudes and behavior is readily available for use in papers and research projects. Here are several useful sources:

Statistical Abstract of the United States: The National Data Book (Ref. HA202 .A1 (InfoDesk)). Published annually by the Bureau of Census, the "Stat Ab" is a collection of national and international data about population, family form and size, income, work, crime, government expenditures, and a host of economic indicators. It is available in the library (check the reference section and also government documents) or a personal copy can be ordered by phone from the government bookstore in Columbus (614-469-6956).

Human Development Report (New York: Oxford University Press) (Ref. HD72 .H 85). This annual publication of the United Nations Development Programme provides essays and data tables about social issues with regard to virtually all of the world's countries. Here one can quickly locate global data on infant mortality, income inequality, rural-urban populations, the status of women, extent of schooling, military expenditures, and many, many other topics. Copies can be found in the library or ordered from the UN (212-963-8302).

World Development Report (New York: Oxford University Press) (Ref. HC59.7 .W659). This annual report of The World Bank, similar to the Human Development Report, has a distinctive theme each year although always focusing on economic issues. The 1995 report, for example, provides essays profiling the world's labor force and includes many related data tables and figures. Check the library, or call the publisher (202-473-1155) to order a copy.

General Social Surveys 1972-1994 (Chicago: National Opinion Research Center, 1994). The General Social Survey provides the most accurate and far-reaching data on the attitudes and behavior of U.S. adults. Items deal with almost every imaginable dimension of social life--from views on abortion to how many people rely on astrological zodiacs. A unit of recent surveys highlights a wide range of attitudes about race and ethnicity. Codebooks, which summarize aggregate data, are available from the Roper Center in Storrs, Connecticut (203-486-4440). The Chipendale program for personal computers allows multivariate analysis of various GSS items (see Professor Macionis for a copy).

World Values Survey, 1990-1993 (Ann Arbor, Michigan: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research, 1994). This data collection allows users to contrast values and norms in a wide variety of areas and to monitor changes in values and attitudes in 45 countries around the world. Statistical packages (such as SPSS) permit multivariate analysis. (See Professor Macionis for details and availability.)