TSOCW 512 Community and Organizational Practice: Home
Getting Started
This guide will help you with the Community Analysis assignment for TSOCW 512. Here are a few tips for before you start your research:
- Define your location. Are you focusing on a neighborhood? A city? A county?
- Think about the broader categories your community fits into. If you're having trouble finding a specific data point for a small area, like a neighborhood, you might be able to find more information about the city or county your community is in.
Check out the boxes below for good starting points for demographic data, local history, and some advanced search tips. See the tabs on the left for resources on local business and local news.
Demographic Data
This assignment asks for a lot of demographic data -- that is, statistics about about a particular population or groups within it. There are lots of places where you can start looking for this information, but a particularly good starting point is Social Explorer.
Social Explorer can help you find information about the population, religion, income, crime, and health of a specific area. You can search for small or large areas -- anywhere from the entire United States to a zip code to a one mile radius around a specific address. The video above will help you get started using this database. Other options for finding demographic data are also listed below.
- Social Explorer
Social Explorer is an online research tool designed to access current and historical U.S. Census data and demographic information. It contains maps, profile reports, data elements, and variables.
- Explore Census DataGuided search and retrieval of data from the Decennial Census, American Community Survey, Economic Census, Equal Employment Opportunity surveys and more
- Puget Sound Regional CouncilProvides planning, research and funding to help ensure that the Puget Sound region remains a great place to live.
- County and City Data for Washington StateData from the Office of Financial Management.
Google Advanced Search
Google Advanced Search can help you find more information about your community by focusing on searches within a specific website or domain (see image below). For example, in this assignment you might want to search only within .gov websites. Use this tool to help you find local government websites, reports, and other data points.
- Google Advanced SearchUse the Advanced Search if you want to limit by domain, date, etc.
Local history
Local history resources can help you learn more about the origins of place names, community traditions, or historic disputes in your community.
- HistoryLink.orgFree online encyclopedia of Washington State history. Produced by a local non-profit History Ink.
Search by timeline, map or topic. Includes some specific city and neighborhood articles. - Washington Place NamesHave you ever wondered how Sequim got its name, or why there is a town called Yelm? What about Dirtyface Peak, Frog Heaven, or Hee Haw Creek? This unique resource provides the who, what, when and why about place names throughout Washington. It’s a fascinating way to explore our state's heritage.
Librarian
Other local information
- Fatal Force: Washington Post Police Shootings DatabaseA log of fatal shootings by on duty police officers in the United States, including regional information.
- Washington State COVID-19 Data DashboardIncludes vaccination rates by county.
