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Overview
Social Explorer database contains the entire U.S. census history as well as numerous other demographic and environmental study reports, as well as mapping tools. The website seamlessly integrates spatial and numeric data through an easy-to-use interface and makes working with socio-demographic data simple even for a novice user.
Social Explorer was previously provided by Oxford University Press (OUP). In April 2019, OUP announced that OUP and Social Explorer, Inc. mutually agreed to end its partnership. Beginning on April 22, 2019, Social Explorer, Inc. began to provide subscriptions and services to Social Explorer directly with subscribers.
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Collection Content
Social Explorer (SE) is a browser-based tool that allows researchers to organize raw data into customizable visualizations. The database aggregates statistics directly from the government departments and organizations collecting it, uniquely allowing users to create maps and charts from raw datasets. Users can pull statistical information from a variety of trusted sources including the United States Census, American Community Surveys, House Price Indices, World Development Indicators, and FBI Crime reports, creating eye-catching and accurate representations for more comprehensive analysis.
Social Explorer also provides a selection of “Lecture Launchers” created for students across experience levels, providing educators with pre-generated visualizations of data relating to current events through the lens of different academic disciplines.
New features now available on Social Explorer include:
- New Business and Economics Datasets: Social Explorer has added Market Profile Data from Easy Analytic Software, Inc. (EASI) for 2010, 2020, and 2025.
- New Election Datasets: These newly added datasets focus on the recent election cycle and provide data on the presidential, congressional, and gubernatorial elections held during 2020.
- Teach and Learn Modules: Social Explorer has developed over 175 new Teach and Learn Modules, a zero-cost text option for faculty and students. These new modules can be integrated into many traditional undergraduate courses and are supported by LMS integration and assessment tools.
- New Social Explorer LibGuide: Social Explorer has developed a Social Explorer LibGuide to support your patrons. The LibGuide is housed in the SpringShare community forum and can be customized and added to your other LibGuides.
- View Change Over Time on Reports: The new Change Over Time feature allows you to view data of interest for multiple years (or easily switch the years) on one report, eliminating the need to download reports for each year.
Terms
Social Explorer is available as a subscription only.
Accessibility:
SE agreed to amend the license agreement with an updated accessibility clause consistent with Disability Law requirements, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and state non-discrimination laws. To view the addendum, login and click on the “CRL Offer & Status” tab.
Strengths and Weaknesses
One of Social Explorer’s notable strengths is its accessibility to novice users. Creating visualizations is a straightforward process in which users can effortlessly choose appropriate variables and visualization options. Users can search within surveys to find applicable tables, and the database’s “Data Dictionary” allows users to view data points in their full, original context.
SE also allows for accessible visual storytelling by offering a side-by-side view, allowing users to view significant changes in data over time. Another option, the swipe tool, allows users to place maps atop one another and toggle between them for a more thorough understanding of changes over time. The site also supports multiple export options, making Social Explorer’s output easily viewable on a variety of platforms.
Despite its versatility, Social Explorer has some noteworthy limitations. Only "eligible variables," from the same survey year and category can be used in a single visualization, making complex visualizations with multiple variables difficult.
Reviewers
Center for Research Libraries
- Madison Borth - Project Assistant, Acquisitions & Licensing
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