L. Statistical publications

These guidelines apply to works that consist chiefly of statistical data, either monographs or continuing resources, in any format (printed, electronic resources, computer files).
See the Guidelines for Continuing Resources – Serials for guidance on treatment of statistical publications that are serials.

Assign primary subject terms (tag 650 first indicator 1) to cover the subject area of the statistics at the most specific level permitted by the indexing vocabulary, along with the term STATISTICAL DATA.
The UNBIS Thesaurus contains many specific terms for statistics and indicators in a wide range of subject areas, e.g., AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS, CRIMINAL STATISTICS, DEMOGRAPHIC STATISTICS, DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS, DRUG STATISTICS, ECONOMIC INDICATORS, ECONOMIC STATISTICS, ENVIRONMENTAL STATISTICS, GENDER STATISTICS, SOCIAL INDICATORS, SOCIAL STATISTICS, TRADE STATISTICS, etc., so the indexer should select the most specific term for the type of statistics in the work at hand. Of course, if no specific term exists for the type of statistics, the indexer should assign the most specific subject term along with the term STATISTICAL DATA; for example, a publication providing statistical data on refugees would be indexed with the terms REFUGEES and STATISTICAL DATA.
The term STATISTICAL DATA should always be assigned as a primary subject to works that consist chiefly of statistical data.
But: Works that concern statistics, but do not contain statistical data, are indexed with the term STATISTICS and not with the term STATISTICAL DATA.

The distinction between «statistics» and «indicators» may be a source of confusion to indexers since the UNBIS Thesaurus provides both «statistics» and «indicators» terms in some major subject fields. For example, what is the difference between ECONOMIC INDICATORS and ECONOMIC STATISTICS? «Indicators» are statistics that are used to measure current conditions and to forecast future trends. Thus «Economic indicators» would be defined as statistics that measure changes in economic conditions. While all indicators are statistics, not all statistics are indicators.

Example: Statistical publication containing indicators

245 1 0 $a World statistics pocketbook
650 1 7 $a ECONOMIC INDICATORS
650 1 7 $a SOCIAL INDICATORS
650 1 7 $a ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS
650 1 7 $a DEMOGRAPHIC STATISTICS
650 1 7 $a STATISTICAL DATA

Publications containing substantial information in categories of statistics below the level of the work as a whole should be indexed in greater depth, with secondary subject terms (tag 650 first indicator 2). For example, issues of the UN serial publications Statistical Yearbook, Monthly Bulletin of Statistics and Demographic Yearbook are assigned secondary subject terms for each chapter, in addition to the primary subject terms for the main categories of statistics.

Example: Statistical publication indexed in depth

245 1 0 $a Monthly bulletin of statistics. $n Vol. 61, no. 1, Issue no. 1027, Jan. 2007 = $b Bulletin mensuel de statistique. $n Vol. 61, no 1, éd. No 1027, janv. 2007
650 1 7 $a STATISTICAL DATA
650 1 7 $a ECONOMIC STATISTICS
650 2 7 $a DEMOGRAPHIC STATISTICS
650 2 7 $a INDUSTRIAL STATISTICS
650 2 7 $a PRICE INDICES
650 2 7 $a EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS
650 2 7 $a ENERGY STATISTICS
650 2 7 $a IRON ORE
650 2 7 $a MANUFACTURING
650 2 7 $a TRANSPORT STATISTICS
650 2 7 $a CONSTRUCTION STATISTICS
650 2 7 $a TRADE STATISTICS
650 2 7 $a FINANCIAL STATISTICS

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Last updated: 24 June 2009