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Statistics: Background Sources

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Background Sources

Online resources like Google and Wikipedia can be helpful with your background research and in identifying keywords that you will need to search the databases.

Here are some additional resources:

 

Encyclopedias, Dictionaries

 

e-Books

 

Reference Materials

 

Patent Search

Library Reference Sources in Statistics

Encyclopedia of Statistical Sciences  (Sci Ref QA276.14.E5)

 Major nine volume encyclopedia published from 1982-88.  Long and short articles on theory and applications in statistics, frequently including bibliographical references.

 CRC Standard Probability and Statistics  (Sci Ref QA276.25.C72 1991)

 Standard source for statistical tables

 Cambridge Dictionary of Statistics  (Sci Ref QA276.14.E84x 2001)

 Relatively concise definitions of statistical terms for students, working statisticians and researchers.

Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources

Primary resources: Found in the "Find Articles / Use Databases" tab, these are sources from which original research is presented. Here, data is taken, analyzed, and presented for the first time. They represent original thinking and are considered the "gold standard" for reference IF they are peer-reviewed. Remember, not all primary sources are peer-reviewed. You should confirm the source is peer-reviewed before using it as a reference. They are usually found as journal articles or conference proceedings. 

Secondary resources: Found in the "Find Articles / Use Databases" tab, these are articles which compare, contrast, summarize or discuss information presented in primary literature.  These are often called "review articles" or "reviews." You can tell a secondary source by its lack of original data presented. These are good sources for finding primary sources through their references. Not all secondary sources are peer-reviewed, and you should confirm the source is peer-reviewed before using it as a reference. If peer-reviewed, it is reasonable to use as a reference.

Tertiary resources: Found here in the "Background Sources" tab, these are books, encyclopedias, almanacs, reference books, etc. Basically any source that has condensed information in a way that allows the reader to "get up to speed" quickly on a subject. Usually the best, first place to start your research. References found within the source can lead to primary research, notable authors, and terminology that will assist you in the rest of your research. Tertiary sources themselves are not usually used as a reference, since the researcher should find the original source from which the tertiary version is based.

Peer review: The process by which articles are submitted to experts in the scientific discipline for comments and criticism before publication in a scholarly journal or presented in a peer-reviewed conference. Peer-reviewed journals are also called "refereed." Using the "UlrichsWeb" resource link in the "Citation Resources" tab is an effective way to determine if the source, and its contents, are peer reviewed.