URBS 502—Information from Secondary Sources

 

The notes for this section are based on

  • DANDEKAR, H.  2003.  “Ch. 3.  Information from Secondary Sources,” in The Planner’s Use of Information, 2nd Ed.  Chicago, IL:  Planners Press.

 

Steps in finding information:

  • Devise quick strategy to guide search
  • Quick analysis of information
  • Confirm initial assessment
  • Check with published (and internet) sources
  • Confirm with field research/survey

 

Weaknesses of secondary data:

  • Information was collected for some purpose other than your needs
  • Diversity in types and sources of information
  • Challenge of assessing quality of information

Sometimes, best route is old-fashioned human contact.

 

Evaluating the quality of secondary data

  • Who paid for collecting the data?
  • Who collected the data?
  • What data were collected?
  • Why were the data collected?
  • How were the data collected?
  • When were the data collected?

 

US Censuses of Population and Housing

  • Major Censuses:
    • Census of Population and Housing
    • Economic Census
    • American Community Survey
  • Census Geography
    • Block
    • Block group
    • Census tract
    • Places (minor civil divisions—MCD—or Census county divisions—townships)
    • Counties
  • Census Reports
    • Summary tabulations
    • Public User Microdata Samples (PUMS)—only available for areas of at least 100,000 people
  • Census help
    • State Data Center (SDC)
    • Reports:  County & City Databook, Statistical Abstracts of the US

 

Topical Areas

  • Population & Demographics
    • Vital Statistics of the US
    • Local County health office
    • International
      • US Census Bureau’s International Population Data Base
      • UN Demographic Yearbook
      • UN City Population
      • World Health Organization (WHO)
      • Earthlights
    • Quick methods for estimating population size
      • Water usage
      • Sales tax information
      • Local school board
  • Housing & Construction
    • American Housing Survey
    • HUD Annual Report & HUD Housing Statistics
    • UN-HABITAT (UN Human Settlements Program)
    • Private sources:  FW Dodge Construction Contract Statistics and Engineering News-Record
    • Regional Housing Needs Assessments (RHNAs)
  • Economics
    • NAICS replaced SIC in 1997 (they are not comparable)
    • Census Bureau County Business Pattersn
    • Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics and State and County Employment and Wages and Wages by Area and Occupation and Consumer Price Index
    • Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Facts (BEARFACTS) and Regional Economic Information System (REIS)
    • US Chamber of Commerce Researchers’ Association Cost of Living Index, Yahoo Real Estate, HomeFair, or Virtual Relocation
    • Sales & Marketing Management, Inc., Survey of Buying Power and Media Markets
    • Local ads in Yellow Pages and newspaper want ads
  • Transportation
    • State Department of Transportation
    • Regional Transit Districts
    • FHA Highway Reports & Fatality Analysis Reporting System
    • Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics
    • Census Bureau’s Commodity Flow Survey
  • Health and Welfare
    • National Center for Health Statistics Data Warehouse
    • Administration for Children and Families data
    • County Health offices
    • WHO & International Red Cross
    • American Hospital Directory & Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
    • HealthWeb & PubMed
  • Education
    • ERIC & NCES databases
    • Local school districts
    • RR Bowker Co.
    • UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations)
  • Environment, Natural Resources, and Recreation
    • US EPA publications
    • Bureau of National Affairs Environmental Reporter
    • Environmental Quality & Environmental Planning Quarterly
    • USGS National Atlas of the US
    • Department of Energy reports
    • BLM, Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior, and National Park Service reports
    • Census of Agriculture (from NASS and US DoA—not Census Bureau)
    • Recreation and Park Yearbook & Monthly Public Use of National Parks
    • UN Environmental Programme Global Environmental Outlook
  • Crime
    • World Crime Survey (UN ODCCP)
    • International Crime Statistics (INTERPOL)
    • FBI Uniform Crime Reports & Hate Crime Statistics
    • National Crime Victimization Survey
    • National Archive of Criminal Justice Data
    • National Crime Justice Reference Service (NCJRS)
    • HUD State of the Cities Data System
  • Governmental Activities
    • ICMA Municipal Yearbook
    • National Association of Regional Councils
    • Piper’s State and Local Government on the Net
    • Index to Current Urban Documents
    • Book of the States (Council of State Governments)
    • Census of Governments (Census Bureau)
    • Moody’s Investor Service
  • Laws, Legislation, and Regulations
    • Municipal Code Corporation
    • State Capital Universe
    • THOMAS
    • Legislative Source Book (Law Librarians’ Society)
  • Federal Information Sources
    • FirstGov
    • UncleSam (Google)
    • LSU Locator
  • State Information Sources
  • Local Information Sources
    • Tax & assessment records
    • Building inspectors’ records
    • Local real estate board
    • Police or sheriff’s office
    • Fire departments and fire insurance records
    • Water and sewer departments
    • Electricity and gas companies
    • Sales tax receipts
    • County health office
    • County extension programs and the soil conservation service
    • Local school boards
    • Automobile registration and drivers’ licenses
    • Local advertisements and want ads
    • Local social service agencies
    • Chambers of commerce
    • Local newspapers, magazines, libraries
    • Council of governments, economic development districts

 

MSU

 

© 2006 A.J.Filipovitch
Revised 6 January 2007