Global History & Social Sciences Class Resources:
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Learn more about context terms, advanced Google and database searches.
Note that advanced search looks different in each platform and database!
Research Sources for Global History & Social Sciences:
Some resources below require logging in with your BPL eCard (you will need your Library Card Number and PIN). If you haven't registered for a BPL eCard yet, see directions here.
When and why would I use this database?
Access resources at either the middle or high school level. Use this database to build background knowledge and find search terms.
What kind of sources are included?
Reference articles, images, and video clips
FactCite - Defining Moments in U.S. History:
When and why would I use this database?
This site has a collection of informational database including: World Mythology, American History, Defining Moments in U.S. History, Milestone Documents, and Countries & Cultures.
What kind of sources are included?
In addition to news articles, FactCite contains content from a range of credible biographical and historical collections.
How do I login?
Username: beaver Password: student
When and why would I use this database?
This database focuses on academic research and includes sources on global history, humanities, arts, social sciences, and science and mathematics. Note that most sources are a minimum of 3-5 years old.
What kind of sources are included?
Academic articles, book chapters, and images.
How do I login?
The first time you visit JSTOR you will need to create an account.
On future visits, login using your school email address.
When and why would I use this database?
This is a great general reference database focusing on core subjects and providing curated research topics. It is helpful for finding primary and secondary sources to develop a deeper understanding of a topic.
What kind of sources are included?
Newspapers, magazines, scholarly journals, reference sources, images, and other source types.
How do I login?
Sign-in with your school email account
ProQuest History Study Center:
When and why would I use this database?
This database provides extensive coverage of a range of global historical topics and themes. It includes both current and archival sources and offers a variety of perspectives.
What kind of sources are included?
Newspapers, magazines, ebooks, academic journal articles, reference sources, audio and video recordings, reports, and other source types.
How do I login?
Sign-in with your school email account
When and why would I use this database?
Use this database to find statistics, data, and survey results presented as charts or tables. Statista also provides access to their data sources in PDF and Excel formats.
What kind of sources are included?
Statistics, reports, and infographics
How do I login?
The first time you visit Statista you will need to create an account.
Select 'Login' in the upper right hand corner
Click 'Register now'
Select the 'Academic' tab and create an account using your Beaver email address.
On future visits, login with your school email address.
Boston Public Library Databases by Subject:
These databases require logging in with your BPL eCard (you will need your Library Card Number and PIN). If you haven't registered for a BPL eCard yet, see directions here.
Datasets:
What is a dataset?
A dataset is a collection of numbers or information gathered for analysis.
When should I use a dataset?
Use datasets to practice organizing, interpreting, and drawing conclusions from real-world information.
How do I find a dataset?
Analyze Boston | Boston's Data Hub:
When and why would I use this dataset?
Analyze Boston | Boston's Data Hub is a website that provides access to a wide range of city data, including information on transportation, public safety, housing, and more.
What kind of data are included?
Use it to explore real local data, identify community trends, and support projects about Boston’s neighborhoods and services.
When and why would I use this dataset?
BEA Data is a website that provides detailed information about the U.S. economy, including data on jobs, income, and production.
What kind of data are included?
Use it to explore real economic facts and understand how different parts of the economy work.
When and why would I use this dataset?
data.census.gov is the official website for accessing data from the U.S. Census Bureau, offering detailed information about the population, housing, economy, and more.
What kind of data are included?
Use it to find accurate statistics about demographic trends and understand how census data shapes communities.
When and why would I use this dataset?
Climate Data Online (CDO) provides free access to NCDC's archive of global historical weather and climate data in addition to station history information.
What kind of data are included?
These data include quality controlled daily, monthly, seasonal, and yearly measurements of temperature, precipitation, wind, and degree days as well as radar data and 30-year Climate Normals.
When and why would I use this dataset?
A website from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that provides scientific information about climate science, adaptation, and mitigation.
What kind of data are included?
Use it to learn about climate science, track environmental changes, and find data.
When and why would I use this dataset?
Commerce Data Hub is a website that offers access to a wide range of economic and business data collected by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
What kind of data are included?
Use it to explore statistics on industries, trade, and the economy
When and why would I use this dataset?
Data.gov is a website that provides free access to thousands of datasets collected by the U.S. government on topics like health, education, environment, and more.
What kind of data are included?
Use it to find reliable data for research, projects, and to learn how real-world information is collected and used.
When and why would I use this dataset?
DataPortals.org is a website that helps users find open data portals (a website where governments, organizations, or institutions share large amounts of data publicly and for free) on topics like health, transportation, environment, and more to learn, research, or create new projects.
What kind of data are included?
Use it to discover a wide variety of datasets for research, projects, and learning about different topics globally.
When and why would I use this database?
Use this site to find and download datasets from across the web.
What kind of sources are included?
It’s especially useful for science, math, social studies, or any project where you want to analyze real-world data.
Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED):
When and why would I use this dataset?
FRED is a website that offers a vast collection of economic and financial data from the U.S. and around the world.
What kind of data are included?
Collection of links to data repositories (Note: best searched by using Command+F)
When and why would I use this dataset?
Google Dataset Search is a search engine that helps users find datasets from across the internet on a wide range of topics.
What kind of data are included?
Use it to quickly locate reliable data
When and why would I use this dataset?
Kaggle is an online platform that offers a large collection of datasets and tools for data science and machine learning projects.
What kind of data are included?
Use it to practice analyzing data, participate in competitions, and learn how to build predictive models.
Open Access Data Repositories:
When and why would I use this dataset?
The Simmons Open Access Data Repository is a website that lists and explains many different places where you can find free research data across various subjects.
What kind of data are included?
Collection of Open Access Data repositories (note: some links may not still be active)
When and why would I use this dataset?
Our World in Data is a website that presents research and data on global issues like health, poverty, environment, and education in easy-to-understand charts and articles.
What kind of data are included?
Use it to explore trustworthy data for important worldwide trends.
When and why would I use this dataset?
Pew Research Center is a nonprofit organization that provides data and analysis on social issues, public opinion, and trends in the U.S. and around the world.
What kind of data are included?
Use it to find reliable information and statistics about current events and society.
Spurious Correlations by Tyler Vigen:
When and why would I use this dataset?
The Sources page lists the books, articles, and data references that Tyler Vigen used to create his “Spurious Correlations” visualizations, offering background on where each idea originated and providing context for the quirky charts
What kind of data are included?
Use this page to see how even wild statistical comparisons can come from real—and varied—reference materials.