Kean University's Learning Commons offers access to a variety of databases that allow Kean students and faculty to explore and visualize data on diverse topics. This workshop will focus on two key resources: PolicyMap and Social Explorer. 

PolicyMap is a powerful mapping tool that facilitates the visualization of U.S. data from an extensive range of sources, including both governmental and non-governmental datasets covering demographics, education, employment, health, housing, and quality of life. Participants will learn how to use PolicyMap to create custom maps, analyze data pertinent to their interests, save visualizations, and export datasets for their own research. 

Social Explorer, on the other hand, provides easy access to maps and reports based on U.S. Census data from 1790 to the present, as well as data from the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and U.S. County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. Participants will explore how to build custom maps and reports that cater to their specific research needs.
 

Learning Objectives:

• The workshop will highlight the data and statistics databases available to the Kean community through the Databases A-Z page.
• The workshop will cover how PolicyMap may be used to create custom maps featuring social data relevant for various topics.
• The workshop will feature how researchers may save PolicyMap data visualizations (maps) and export datasets as .csv files.
• The workshop will cover how Social Explorer may be used to access data and to create custom maps and reports featuring data on specific topics.
• The workshop will feature how researchers may save Social Explorer data visualizations (maps and tables) and export datasets into SPSS or Excel.

Learning Outcomes:

• Participants will be able to access the data and statistics databases available through the Databases A-Z page.
• Participants will be able to use PolicyMap to create custom maps featuring social data relevant for their research interests.
• Participants will know how to save PolicyMap data visualizations (maps) and to export datasets as .csv files.
• Participants will be able to use Social Explorer to create custom maps and reports featuring data relevant for their research interests.
• Participants will know how to save Social Explorer data visualizations (maps) and tables and to export datasets into SPSS or Excel.