October 28, 2008
CDC Releases New Infant Mortality Data
CDC Releases New Infant Mortality Data
The United States ranked 29th in the world in infant mortality in 2004, compared to 27th in 2000, 23rd in 1990 and 12th in 1960, according to a new report from CDC?s National Center for Health Statistics. The U.S. infant mortality rate was 6.78 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2004, the latest year that data are available for all countries. Infant mortality rates were generally lowest (below 3.5 per 1,000) in selected Scandinavian (Sweden, Norway, Finland) and East Asian (Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore) countries. Twenty-two countries had infant mortality rates below 5.0 in 2004.
Posted by yanfu at 10:58 AM | Comments (0)
October 13, 2008
NCES Announces DataLab
DataLab, a new website from the Institute of Education Sciences’ National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), puts a wide range of survey data collected by NCES at your fingertips. Whether you want a quick number or an in-depth look at education data, the tools in the DataLab are designed to do both.
Posted by yanfu at 03:58 PM | Comments (0)
July 31, 2008
Births, Marriages, Divorces, and Deaths: Provisional Data for 2007
Births, Marriages, Divorces, and Deaths: Provisional Data for 2007
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC)
Data shown here are provisional and include only events occurring within the United States (50 states and the District of Columbia). Provisional birth, death, and infant death data in this report are based on a combination of counts of events provided by each reporting area and registered vital events processed into National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) data files. Some of these may not have occurred in the specified month of this report. Monthly provisional birth, death, and infant death data may be updated during the course of a data year. Updates based on registered events will be included in the month the event occurred. However, updates based on counts received from the states may include the event in the month it was processed rather than the month in which it occurred. This may result in a low figure for a given month followed by a high figure for the month(s) in which the delayed records were processed. Once the provisional data year has ended, updates cease. Thus, provisional birth, death, and infant death data may not accurately track either the preliminary or the final number of events registered.
Posted by ljridley at 10:31 AM | Comments (0)
July 21, 2008
NCHS Data Users Conference 2008
Registration is open for the NCHS Data Users Conference to be held August 11-13, 2008 in Washington, DC. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/events/duc2008/duc_announce.htm
Posted by lisan at 01:52 PM | Comments (0)
American Time Use Survey (ATUS) in jeopardy
The President's proposed FY 2009 budget eliminates funding for the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Eliminating the ATUS would result in the loss of informative data on the full range of non-market activities Americans conduct. BLS needs $6.0 million in the FY 2009 budget to fully fund the ATUS and its other key surveys.
See PAA testimony in support of BLS operations:
http://popassoc.i4a.com/files/public/NIH-NCHS-BLSHouseTestimonyFY2009.doc
Posted by lisan at 01:35 PM | Comments (0)
July 17, 2008
Spatially referenced HIV data
The HIVmapper is an interactive GIS mapping tool which allows users to quickly create maps based on MEASURE DHS data found in the HIV/AIDS Survey Indicators Database.
Related to this is an HIV Spatial Data Repository:
http://www.hivspatialdata.net/
Both of these links can be found from the main DHS website:
Posted by lisan at 01:43 PM | Comments (0)
American Time Use Survey: 2007 Results
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor reports that in 2007:
* Twenty percent of employed persons did some or all of their work at home on days that they worked, and 87 percent did some or all of their work at their workplace.
* On an average day (which includes all 7 days of the week), 83 percent of women and 66 percent of men spent some time doing household activities, such as housework, cooking, lawn care, or financial and other household management.
* Watching TV was the leisure activity that occupied the most time, accounting for about half of leisure time, on average, for both men and women.
Full report (PDF)
Posted by ljridley at 11:09 AM | Comments (0)
Census Won't Count Gay Marriages
Census Won't Count Gay Marriages
Christopher Lee | Washington Post
Although gay marriage is legal in Massachusetts and California, census officials say that same-sex partners in both states who list themselves as spouses will be recorded as "unmarried partners" -- just as they were in the 2000 census.
Census Bureau spokesman Stephen Buckner cited the Defense of Marriage Act, approved by Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing as a marriage the union of anyone but a man and a woman.
Posted by lisan at 09:45 AM | Comments (0)
July 10, 2008
Opportunity to comment on demographic measures
The PhenX project is an initiative to integrate genetic and epidemiological research. One of the working groups in this project is a Demographics Working group.
You can comment on the measurement of such demographic concepts as relationship, race/ethnicity, origins, marital status, income/poverty/status, education, labor force, health insurance/health care. You can also suggest other concepts for inclusion.
Link to Demographic Concepts Survey
The comment period ends August 1, 2008.
If you would like to find out more about the project or how to be involved in it, contact Dr. Carol M. Hamilton at chamilton@phenx.org.
The Demographic Working group contact is Michael Phillips from RTI (mjp@rti.org).
Posted by lisan at 02:57 PM | Comments (0)
May 23, 2008
Preliminary Datasets for the Mali DHS 2006
Preliminary datasets are now available for the Mali DHS 2006. MEASURE DHS makes all unrestricted survey data files available for legitimate academic research. Preliminary Data are a pre-release of the Standard Recode survey data. Since the data are still under review, the official release of the survey data may differ from the pre-release version. It is strongly recommended that analyses using these preliminary data, should be repeated when the final version of the data become available. Changes to these preliminary data sets are not recorded.
Datasets can be requested/downloaded at: http://www.measuredhs.com/login.cfm
Data access instructions may be found here.
Posted by ljridley at 01:59 PM | Comments (0)
April 29, 2008
NIH and Sensitive Data
NIH Reconfirms Commitment to Protecting Sensitive Personal Data
April 14, 2008
As a result of the recent theft of an NIH employee’s laptop which included storage of patient data, the NIH has refocused its efforts to protecting information systems (electronic and hard copy) which contain sensitive personal information. Steps are currently underway at NIH to ensure that all computers, laptops and portable electronic devices are encrypted and that NIH employees are educated in the proper handling of sensitive data.
In addition, the NIH encourages grantee institutions and individuals not to use portable electronic devices to store identifiable, sensitive, and confidential information about NIH-supported research or research participants. If they must be used, they should be encrypted to safeguard data and information. These devices include laptops, CDs, disc drives, flash drives, etc. Researchers and institutions should limit access to personally identifiable information through a means of access controls such as password protection.
For more information, see NIH Guide Notice, dated 4/11/2008.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-066.html
Posted by lisan at 01:23 PM | Comments (0)
Variables to be included in Census 2010 and ACS
Recently, the Census Bureau submitted to Congress the questions it plans to ask in the 2010 Census and the American Community Survey.
http://www.census.gov/2010census/recent_news/011812.html
Posted by lisan at 09:50 AM | Comments (0)
April 25, 2008
North American Jewish Databank
National studies that identify the Jewish population in the United States:
http://www.jewishdatabank.org/national.asp
Community-based studies:
http://www.jewishdatabank.org/community.asp
Terms of use to access data:
http://www.jewishdatabank.org/termsofuse.asp
Posted by lisan at 01:33 PM | Comments (0)
GAO Adds 2010 Census to High-Risk List
2010 Census: Automation Problems and Uncertain Costs and Plans. . .
Additional GAO reports critical of the Census Bureau's planning:
GAO-08-659T] Census at Critical Juncture for Implementing Risk Reduction
Mathew Scire and David Powner | GAO
April 9, 2008
[GAO-08-550T] Information Technology: Significant Problems of Critical Automation Program
David Powner and Mathew Scire | GAO
March 5, 2008
[GAO-08-295T] Information Technology: Census Bureau Needs to Improve its Risk Management of Decennial Systems
David Powner and Mathew Scire | GAO
December 11, 2007
[GAO-07-779T] 2010 Census: Design Shows Progress, but Managing. . . Require Attention
Mathew Scire | GAO
April 24, 2007
[GAO-07-1106T] 2010 Census: Preparations for the 2010 Census Underway, but Continued Oversight and Risk Management are Critical
Mathew Scire and David Powner | GAO
July 17, 2007
[GAO-06-1009T] 2010 Census: Redesigned Approach Holds Promise, but. . .
Brenda Farrell | GAO
July 27, 2006
[GAO-06-822T] 2010 Census: Costs and Risks Must be Closely Monitored and Evaluated with Mitigation Plans in Place
Brenda Farrell | GAO
June 6, 2006
Census Bureau: Important Activities for Improving Management of Key 2010 Decennial Acquisitions Remain to be Done
GAO Highlights
March 2006
[GAO-05-9] 2010 Census: Basic Design has Potential, but Remaining Challenges Need Prompt Attention
GAO Highlights
January 2005
Posted by lisan at 11:57 AM | Comments (0)
Census Official Steps Down
Census official steps down amid criticism over contract
Stephen Ohlemacher | Associated Press
April 24, 2008
More background information:
Mismanagement, not technology, caused Census handheld trouble, auditors say
By Gautham Nagesh | Government Executive
April 9, 2008
Census Bureau facing huge cost increase, possible delays in 2010 effort
Gautham Nagesh | Government Executive
March 5, 2008
Census program to use handheld computers said to be in 'serious trouble'
Allan Holmes | Government Executive
January 1, 2008
On the Brink: The success of the 2010 census hangs on the risky switch to handheld computers
Allan Holmes | Government Executive
July 15, 2007
Posted by lisan at 11:38 AM | Comments (0)
April 23, 2008
World Development Indicators, 2008
The 2008 WDI includes more than 800 indicators in over 80 tables organized in 6 sections: World View, People, Environment, Economy, States and Markets, and Global Links.
UM access to WDI Online, 1960-
Posted by yanfu at 01:42 PM | Comments (0)
April 21, 2008
WalkScore - Measuring walkability in neighborhoods
Check out your neighborhood. How close are you to libraries, schools and neighborhood stores?
Posted by lisan at 10:43 AM | Comments (0)
April 10, 2008
Heck of a Job [Editorial on the Census]
Another Heck of a Job
Editorial | NY TIMES
April 10, 2008
The Bush administration won’t save the census, which is central to American democracy. But Congress can.
Posted by lisan at 12:17 PM | Comments (0)
April 07, 2008
Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care
Use the links in the Atlas Data Tools menu at left to find state, region, and hospital-specific data. Download prepared tables from our Download page, or make your own tables and graphs using the Data Tools. Descriptions of the tools and step-by-step Help files can be found on the Data Tools page.
Posted by lisan at 09:57 PM | Comments (0)
April 05, 2008
Census 2010 back to pen and paper
Census Back to Pen and Paper: Bureau Admits it wasn't clear on computer needs
Dana Hedgpeth | WASHINGTON POST
April 4, 2008
Additional links to:
Census Bureau statement
Statement of Steve Murdock, Director of the Census Bureau
Posted by lisan at 07:13 PM | Comments (0)
April 03, 2008
Multiple versions of TIGER/Line files available at ICPSR
This new resource from ICPSR includes data no longer available online from the US Census Bureau.
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/TIGER/index.html
Posted by lisan at 11:22 AM | Comments (0)
April 01, 2008
New release of USA Counties
USA Counties now has downloadable data files to accompany the web-based version of USA counties:
Web-based version
http://censtats.census.gov/usa/usa.shtml
Excel download version
http://www.census.gov/support/USACdata.html
Posted by lisan at 08:43 AM | Comments (0)
Census Bureau releases data on metro areas
Texas is home to 4 of the nation's top 10 growing cities.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011671.html
Posted by lisan at 08:39 AM | Comments (0)
March 27, 2008
The Census at 'High Risk'
Editorial from the New York Times
published: March 25, 2008
To salvage the effort to introduce hand-held computers, the Census Bureau needs an emergency appropriation for 2008.
Posted by lisan at 11:25 AM | Comments (0)
March 26, 2008
NLS News
NLS News (Quarterly newsletter)
This issue describes the personal finance variables available in the NLSY surveys as well as information on cohabitation variables across all NLS surveys. The newsletter also provides a few FAQs that may be useful (foreign birth for Hispanics and religious affiliation question for NLSY97).
Posted by lisan at 09:37 AM | Comments (0)
March 21, 2008
Population Estimates released
New estimates from the Census Bureau are available. They show that the New Orleans area is growing; previous hot spots like Florida, Arizona, and Nevada are slowing.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011635.html
Posted by lisan at 11:55 AM | Comments (0)
Dropout Data: How is it Measured?
States' Data Obscure How Few Finish High School
by Sam Dillon
March 20, 2008
NY Times
Federal figures gathered under the No Child Left Behind law hide a severe dropout epidemic, researchers say.
Posted by lisan at 11:48 AM | Comments (0)
Home Equity data
The following are links to data and reports with information on home
equity.
Residential Finance Survey, 2001
Home Equity Lines of Credit: Who Uses this source of credit? [Census 2000 Brief]
based on the 2001 Residential Finance Survey
http://www.census.gov/prod/2007pubs/c2kbr-37.pdf07
Posted by lisan at 11:26 AM | Comments (0)
American FactFinder wants your input
American FactFinder is the Census Bureau's data access tool to many of the summary file products. The tool will be undergoing enhancements.
Give the Census Bureau your input:
https://questionweb.com/63144/
The survey closes March 31, 2008.
Posted by lisan at 11:24 AM | Comments (0)
March 20, 2008
2007 Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific
The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) has issued the Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific 2007.
Posted by yanfu at 03:28 PM | Comments (0)
March 13, 2008
American Election Returns, 1787-1825
A New Nation Votes provides data from America’s earliest elections. It includes more than presidential election returns. Data run from governor races to the county coroner. The geographic coverage extends to the 25 states that existed during this time frame. The site is still in progress, but already includes 15,000 elections. This is about one-quarter of the eventual total. The website is based on the research of Philip Lampi.
http://elections.lib.tufts.edu/aas_portal/index.xq
Posted by lisan at 08:30 PM | Comments (0)
Data from The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO)
In these times of volatile housing prices, here is a good source of data on housing markets, housing price indices, and financial markets. The data are from many sources, but compiled within the website:
http://www.ofheo.gov/about.aspx
Posted by lisan at 08:22 PM | Comments (0)
March 05, 2008
Documentation for census data in the Michigan RDC
ICPSR has just released the documentation for the restricted Census Bureau microdata. These are the data in the Research Data Center (RDC). This should be helpful for determining whether a research project is feasible or not.
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/21820.xml
Posted by lisan at 12:39 PM | Comments (0)
Real time data vs data from surveys
The Buck Has Stopped
Gretchen Morgenson
March 2, 2008
The NY Times reports on TrimTabs Investment Research. This company produces a Consumer Spendables Indicator based on real time data as opposed to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Presumably, the contemporaneous data give more insight into what is happening in the economy as we experience it.
The TrimTabs website has links to articles that describe why their methodology is superior to the BLS Employment Survey.
Posted by lisan at 12:37 PM | Comments (0)
UN Data Launched
UN data was launched in February 2008. It will replace the UN Commons database, which will be discontinued as of July 31, 2008.
UNdata is the United Nations Data Access System which gives access to current, relevant and reliable statistics for free. The service is provided by the United Nations to users of data around the world. It offers easy access to data compiled and produced by United Nations agencies as well as other organizations.
UNdata's main features are:
- accessing different data sources through one interface,
- searching data with keywords and browsing databases,
- refining search results by filtering, and
- customizing tables with features such as sorting, column
selection and pivoting.
UNdata and the UN Common Database (UNCDB) UNdata is replacing the UNCDB. The new system goes beyond the concept of the UNCDB, starting from the way the data is stored and searched to the data presentation. Furthermore, the UNCDB only includes a small selection of UNSD's extensive data collection, whereas UNdata will have broader data coverage from various international and national sources.
The UNCDB series are currently available through UNdata under the new name "Key indicators". Please note that the Key indicator's scope has already been reduced, as some of the series have been included from the original data provider.
The UNCDB will be discontinued this summer after the academic year finished in most schools around the globe.
Posted by lisan at 12:33 PM | Comments (0)