1. Web sites containing statistical resources
2. Web-based polling institutes

Under DATA/CHIFFRES, you will find:

• American data from the following sources:
  

1. Richard Saul Wurman's UNDERSTANDING USA, a site which provides data and information on a variety of subjects, such as education, health, crime, the environment, etc. http://www.understandingusa.com/
2. USA TODAY, from the newspaper of the same name, provides news snapshots about a variety of specific subjects, such as: how often we check our e-mail; the tools we use at meetings, voting patterns, etc. . . http://www.usatoday.com/snapshot/news/snapndex.htm
3. the US Census Bureau provides data about the 2000 Census as well as many other topics, such as geography, business, government, etc. . . http://www.census.gov/
4. USA Statistics in Brief, from the US Census Bureau, provides a good statistical overview of the United States: http://www.census.gov/statab/www/brief.html

• French data from the following sources:

1. The French QUID provides information on a variety of topics on France only, such as: geography; transportation; family; work, etc. . . http://www.quid.fr/
   
2. La France en faits et chiffres, from the INSEE (Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques) provides French social and economical data, such as the cost of the SMIC for instance. http://www.insee.fr/fr/ffc/accueil_ffc.asp
3. Voici la France, from the site of the French Embassy in Washington D.C. http://www.info-france-usa.org/fr/fprofile.htm provides statistics on such subjects as: education, transportation, media, etc.. http://www.info-france-usa.org/fr/fprofile.htm
4. International data from the QUID: Comparaisons Internationales provides comparative statistics between France and the US on a variety of subjects. By highlighting both Etats-Unis and France, then clicking on "Rechercher" at the bottom of the page, you will have access to another page which provides you with a "comparaison dynamique" on a multiplicity of subjects. These subjects, which appear under the heading "Matières" include: demography, finance, health, work, etc.. Note: this site only works with Internet Explorer (not Netscape) http://www.quid.fr/qm/tabdyn.html

Under POLLS/SONDAGES, you will find the following Polling Institutes:

• For the US:

1. Louis Harris and Associates: http://www.louisharris.com/
2. Gallup Organization: http://www.gallup.com/
3. Public Agenda: http://www.publicagenda.org/index.htm
4. LATIMES.COM: Los Angeles Times : http://www.latimes.com/news/timespoll/national/index.htm#2000

• For France

1. IFOP: Institut Français d'Opinion Publique: http://www.ifop.com/europe/index.asp
2. Canal IPSOS: http://www.canalipsos.com/
3. BVA : Institut d'Etudes de Marché et d'Opinion http://www.bva.fr/
4. SOFRES : Sondages d'Opinion (Taylor Nelson): http://www.sofres.fr/

• International

1. MORI Market and Opinion Research: http://www.mori.com/i.shtml?CVT0123

Tips: Since these sites contain an enormous amount of information, the best way to use them is to first go into their Archives and then look for broad categories: politics, economy, society, etc. . . These will lead you and your students to specific topics, such as (under the rubrik Société, for instance): Famille, Ecole, Temps libre, etc. . . )