Insights Archives

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AI...What to trust? A guide to AI-generated data use and reliability

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool for how we gather, interpret, and use data. For Minnesota Compass users—whether you are involved in grant writing, strategic planning, community organizing, or advocacy—integrating AI presents both opportunities and challenges. In Minnesota Compass’s latest Insights article, Justin Hollis provides a guide to understanding common AI tools and how to use AI when conducting data research.

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What nine recent voter trends can tell us about Minnesota’s 2024 election

Minnesota Compass looked at Minnesota voter turnout data from the 2000s and came up with 9 voter trends to watch for the coming 2024 presidential election.
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The importance of data disaggregation: Minnesota's Hispanic and Latino communities

In part three of our data disaggregation series, Research Associate Anne Li shares what she has learned about Latino and Hispanic Minnesotans. "Experiences, strengths, challenges, and needs vary by community, which is why disaggregating populations beyond census-level race groups is so important," she writes.
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New federal standards will help improve data on race and ethnicity

For the first time in over two decades, Minnesota will receive more accurate racial and ethnic population data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Recent updates to federal data collection guidelines will significantly improve our understanding of communities across Minnesota.
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How did leaders come into their leadership positions?

How did leaders come to their positions? It’s one of the most common questions Minnesota Compass receives about data in our Who Leads in MN? section. So we’ve been collecting information to learn more about pathways into leadership. Our findings point to some noticeable differences in how leaders came into their positions across Minnesota’s business, government, and nonprofit sectors.
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A picture of LGBTQ Minnesotans, Part 1: What existing data sources can, and can’t, tell us

In part one of a four-part series on LGBTQ+ Minnesotans, Minnesota Compass looked into what current demographic tools can, and can’t, tell us about LGBTQ+ Minnesotans and their households. We also give some background on why accurate data are so hard to come by, and how that may change.
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A picture of LGBTQ+ Minnesotans, part 4: LGBTQ+ children and youth

In part four of our four-part series on LGBTQ+ Minnesotans, we look at children and youth who self-identify as LGBTQ+ in the Minnesota Student Survey, which is administered every three years and surveyed nearly 100,000 8th, 9th, and 11th graders in 2022.
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A picture of LGBTQ+ Minnesotans, Part 2: Same-sex couples in the American Community Survey

In part two of our four-part series on LGBTQ+ Minnesotans, we look at same-sex couples as self-identified in the American Community Survey.
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A picture of LGBTQ+ Minnesotans, Part 3: LGBTQ+ adults in the Household Pulse Survey

In part three of our four-part series on LGBTQ+ Minnesotans, we look at LGBTQ+ adults as self-identified in the U.S. Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey.
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The importance of data disaggregation: Minnesota's Asian communities

When unique cultural groups are grouped together under one common category like “Asian Minnesotans,” we can’t always identify and understand quality of life across distinct cultural groups. This article highlights the importance of data disaggregation in understanding the varying lived experiences of Asian Minnesotans.