Talks
Academic Level (Author 1)
Staff
Academic Level (Author 2)
Staff
Discipline Track
Community/Public Health
Abstract
Background: “Statistics are people with the tears wiped away.” Dr. Irving J. Selikoff Statistics, as the quote above suggests, often seem very removed from the lived experience of individuals, particularly in regard to their health concerns. Yet used well, demographic statistics can paint a clear, objective picture of the population being studied, significantly strengthening the validity of research as well as justifying requests for resources such as grant funding.
Method: As a tool for UTRGV researchers, research administrative staff in the School of Medicine have created a demographic table of key data on basic population characteristics including economics, education and health. The table compares statistics from the four counties of the lower Rio Grande Valley to those of the state of Texas and the nation as a whole. We will share a pilot of this live document which will soon be accessible to the UTRGV community in the hopes that it will provide a convenient source of information about the lives of our community in a form that can be used to strengthen research and research funding requests.
Results and Conclusion: The table, which will be demonstrated, includes links to reliable, recognized sources, primarily the Census Bureau but also state agencies, medical associations, and global organizations. As more and more data become available, the table is updated to include statistics that provide greater detail about the quality of life of people for whom previous gaps in demographic information have led to misinformation, neglect, and mistreatment.
Presentation Type
Talk
Recommended Citation
Cahn, Jennifer and Perez, Aniella N., "Gathering and Using Demographic Data for the Rio Grande Valley" (2024). Research Colloquium. 2.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/colloquium/2023/talks/2
Included in
Gathering and Using Demographic Data for the Rio Grande Valley
Background: “Statistics are people with the tears wiped away.” Dr. Irving J. Selikoff Statistics, as the quote above suggests, often seem very removed from the lived experience of individuals, particularly in regard to their health concerns. Yet used well, demographic statistics can paint a clear, objective picture of the population being studied, significantly strengthening the validity of research as well as justifying requests for resources such as grant funding.
Method: As a tool for UTRGV researchers, research administrative staff in the School of Medicine have created a demographic table of key data on basic population characteristics including economics, education and health. The table compares statistics from the four counties of the lower Rio Grande Valley to those of the state of Texas and the nation as a whole. We will share a pilot of this live document which will soon be accessible to the UTRGV community in the hopes that it will provide a convenient source of information about the lives of our community in a form that can be used to strengthen research and research funding requests.
Results and Conclusion: The table, which will be demonstrated, includes links to reliable, recognized sources, primarily the Census Bureau but also state agencies, medical associations, and global organizations. As more and more data become available, the table is updated to include statistics that provide greater detail about the quality of life of people for whom previous gaps in demographic information have led to misinformation, neglect, and mistreatment.