Data Set

For my first major project in FACS 3935 I have decided to work with the U.S. mortality rates in recent years ranging from 2008 - 2012. I knew initially that I wanted to work with such a dataset because it felt appropriate to work with. I was initially interested in the number of people that have passed away as well as what various causes might be.

I wanted to play around with these numbers and try to extract any trends that might have occurred over the years. I think it will be interesting to see in what years the mortality rates have risen, dropped off, plateaued etc etc. Similarly I would like to try and identify any correlation between the cause of death as well as the year. My hope is to

I have not yet decided on any finite data set as I have two to consider. One possible dataset I will consider using is the (CDC) Center for Disease Control statistics page. I feel that this will give me a fair insight to the causes of death of among Americans. The second source of data is the United States Census Bureau in the section concerning births, deaths, marriages and divorces. Both of these sources contain easy to read/easy to download PDFs as well as Excel spread sheets.

Source:

• Center for Disease Control
• U.S. Census Bureau

My hope for this project is to create enough insight into mortality rates among US citizens. In an attempt to create and offer reasonable discussion and possible solutions, I aim to (if nothing else) discover why mortality rates are so high as well as postulate ways of lowering the mortality rate.

Citations (in Chicago):

1. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. "Deaths and Mortality". Accessed January 20, 2013. Last modified January 11, 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm
2. United States Census Bureau. "Births, Deaths, Marriages, & Divorces". Accessed January 20, 2013. Last modified June 27, 2012. http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/births_deaths_marriages_divorces.html