Exercise 1

Sociologists use data from a variety of sources to study society and culture. One significant source of data is the U.S. Census. Census data are available in a variety of forms, including a publication called Statistical Abstract of the United States. Go to the Statistical Abstract of the United States Web site (http://www.census.gov/statab/www/) and select “State Rankings”; then select “Violent Crime Rate.” For this table, a ranking of “1” means that the state has the most violent crime per 100,000 people.

1. Choose any five states. Write down each state’s name, violent crime rate, and ranking.
   
   Click on your browser’s “Back” button. The “State Ranking” page should reappear. Now select “Unemployment Rate.” For this table, a ranking of “1” means that the state has the most unemployed people per 100,000 residents.



2. Using the five states you selected for question “a,” write down each state’s unemployment rate and ranking.



3. Compare each state’s ranking for violent crime and unemployment. Does any pattern emerge?

Exercise 2

Go to www.census.gov and answer the following questions:

1. What is the current population of the United States?



2. What is the current population of the world?



3. Click on the link that says “People,” then click “American FactFinder.” Click on “People” on the menu at the left of the screen and fill in the blanks for your community and click “Go.” Scroll down to the links to census data. What is the total population of your city or state?



4. What is the percentage of people in your city who have less than a fifth grade education?