Health Statistics  Tags: data statistics aggregate_assessment  

Web sites provide a wealth of information, but some are more reliable than others. To determine the validity of a site, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Authority
   Is the document author or site sponsor clearly identified?
   Does the site provide contact information for the author or sponsor?
   
2. Objectivity or clear disclosure of advocacy
   Is the site's purpose clear (for example, to inform, entertain or persuade)
   Is the site explicit about declaring its point of view?
   Does the site indicate whether it is directed toward a specific audience?
   
3. Coverage
   Are the topics covered by the site clear?
   Does the site exhibit a suitable depth and comprehensiveness for its purpose?
   Is sufficient evidence provided to support the ideas and options presented?
   
4. Accuracy
   Are the sources of information stated?
   Do the facts appear to be accurate?
   Can you verify this information by comparing this source with other sources in the field?
   
5. Currency
   Are the dates included in the website?
   Is the information current, or at least still relevant for the site's purpose? For your purpose?

Criteria list taken in whole from: Ramage, Bean and Johnson. The Allyn and Becon Guide to Writing. 5th Ed. customized for Marquette University. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc., 2009: 602.

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - Data & Surveys
• Association of Religion Data Archives
  Includes data on congregational membership at metropolitan, county, state, and national levels.
• Children's Defense Fund
  Includes The State of America's Children 2004, Children in the States, and other information on child health and welfare.
• ChildStats.gov
  Provides access to state and national data and reports on children and families.
• Department of Health and Human Services - Gateway to Data and Statistics
• Fedstats
  Provides access to statistics from over 100 government agencies.
• Finding and Using Health Statistics: A Self-Study Course
• Guide to Community Preventive Services
  
• Health & Medical Statistics on the Internet (University of Maryland Libraries)
• Healthy People 2010 Site
• Internet Crossroads in Social Science Data
  Includes over 650 annotated links to Web sites with demographic, health and other data.
• Kids Count
  Provides data useful in measuring the educational, social, economic, and physical well-being of children.
• Medical College of Wisconsin Firearm Injury Center
• MedlinePlus: Health Statistics
• Milwaukee Continuum of Care - Homelessness in Milwauikee
• Neighborhood Data Center (Non-Profit Center of Milwaukee, Inc.)
  
• Partners in Information Access for the Public Health Workforce: Health Data Tools and Statistics
• State Health Facts Online
• University of Michigan Documents Center - Statistical Resources on the Web - Health
• University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute
  Publications section includes Wisconsin County Health Rankings.
• Wisconsin AIDS/HIV Program - Statistics & Reports
• Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Public Health Programs
  Links to data and health program information on topics such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and injury prevention.

1. Use the Advanced feature of Google to be more specific in your search
2. Type "intitle:" to search within page titles. Try intitle:health disparities
   
3. Type "inurl:" to search within the web address of a page. Try inurl:raynor
4. Type "related:" to find pages with similar content. Try related:www.marquette.edu/library
5. Type "search tips site:" to access search tips for a specific site. Try search tips site:nutrition.gov
6. Access Google Directory at directory.google.com
7. Type "site:" to return results from a specfic domain. Try site:.org library
8. Type "intext:" in Google News to pull terms from the body of a story
9. Type "define:" to access the built-in dictionary
10. No Calculator handy? Type 12*78 and hit search for the answer
11. The calculator also converts measurements and currency. Try "30 pounds in kilograms"
12. Type "time" and a location to find the time anywhere in the world
13. Enter a statistics-based query like "population of Milwaukee" to find the answer above a list of search results
    
14. Use "language tools" to search sites with text in a language other than English.

IM a Librarian

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Yahoo: askraynor
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Google: askraynor
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Phone a Librarian

Call the Information Desk at 414.288-7556

Email a Librarian

Email the Infomation Desk at askus@marquette.edu

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