Data & Statistics and Its Relation to Baltimore

Caitlin Breitenbach, Laura Klipp, Kelsey Philon,

Michael Remmert, Paul Monteferrante

Data and Statistics

• Data and statistics can be defined as individual facts or items of information

• These facts or items of information can be found in a variety of sources

AUTHORITATIVE• Data is generally always correct because it

is published by government organizations

• There are no if, and’s, or but’s– Either it’s a fact or it’s not

Where to Look?• These are sources available to the public

in different forms– Books– Magazines– Internet– Newspapers– Various others

What Data?• PopulationPopulation• Crime RateCrime Rate

• School StatisticsSchool Statistics• Poverty RatePoverty Rate

• Health StatisticsHealth Statistics• Neighborhood StatisticsNeighborhood Statistics

• WorkforceWorkforce• ReligionReligion

• DemographicsDemographics

Population• Where?

• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/24000.htm

• Relatively Easy to find

• Easy to trust (government website)

Crime Rate• Crime Rates are specific to cities

• Where?– http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/mdcrime.

htm– Site posted crime rates provided by the FBI from 1960-

2005 by county or surrounding areas

School Statistics• School Statistics also are provided on a

county by county basis

• These can be located on the Maryland State Department of Education website– http://marylandpublicschools.org/msde

• Also a trusted site, run by government offices

Poverty Rate• These rates also vary by state, city, and

towns throughout the country

– http://www.marylandpolicy.org/html/research/POVERTYfaq2004.asp

• This is reliable because the statistics are posted by an independent research company who conducts research and surveys throughout Maryland

Health Statistics• Published health statistics are published

and are available through the Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene

– http://www.dhmh.state.md.us/

– Trusted (Government Site)

Neighborhoods• Neighborhood Statistics were surprisingly

easy to locate on a site that is ran by Baltimore City

– http://www.ci.baltimore.md.us/neighborhoods/

Workforce• These are found by researching the

Department of Labor

– http://www.dllr.state.md.us/lmi/

Religion & Demographics

- Religion was almost impossible to find because it is a constantly changing statistic

- Demographics however, are located almost anywhere you look- http://www.muninetguide.com/states/maryland/

municipality/Baltimore.php- This site can be trusted because it is a municipal research

company whose sole purpose is to provide statistics of cities, that went from a newsletter to exclusively online in 2003

Data & Statistics• Overall

– Data pertaining to cities is very easy to find– Strengths include accuracy, ability to trust– Weakness include being current with data

(most current)– Easy to trust sites include government sites

and sites affiliated with the government• If there are doubts, read the “About Us” link most

reputable websites have– If there is further doubt, DON’T USE IT

THE END