types of use by different user categories part 2

Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

Types of use by different usercategories Part 2

Uses and users of statistics

Produced in Collaboration between World Bank Institute and the Development Data Group (DECDG)


Statistical releases

Release practices must comply with international standards• The Special Data Dissemination Standards (SDDS) of the IMF, and

General Data Dissemination Systems (GDDS) are leading• Principal release standards are: publication of release calendars

and simultaneous release to all users• Indicative release dates are to be published 12 months in advance,

exact dates one month in advance• All news releases are subject to embargo• Timeliness of release depends on the periodicity of statistics• Limited pre-release to key ministers is allowed, but must be made

public

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Press releases

One tool to stimulate exposure of statistics in the media is good press releases

• Press releases are simultaneously dispatched to all relevant media• Generally press releases are about new statistical data• Press releases should have a proper format• The content must be such that media can use it in unaltered form• Writing good press releases requires expertise

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Press conferences

• Occasional press conferences may be effective• Conditions: there must be news to present and the conference

should be well organized• Choose an appropriate time and location• Invite the press well in advance• Prepare the speakers(s) and appoint a moderator• Ensure the availability of necessary equipment, background material

and visual aids• At the end, answer questions briefly and clearly

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Use by researchers

• Researchers can be allies of the NSO• They may be interested in outcomes, but also in methods• Researchers want to do their own analysis• For analysis they prefer to have access to microdata• Access to microdata must be properly organized• Exchanges between the NSO and academia foster good relations• Having common projects can be beneficial

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Use of microdata

• NSOs possess lots of data that is a rich source for research• Some types of research require microdata• Use of microdata by external researchers has many advantages:

• Efficient use of public funds – no additional data collection needed, so no additional respondent load

• Better comparability of results• Useful feedback from researchers• Cooperation between NSO and researchers raises status of

NSO• Arrangements for access to microdata vary between countries• Household data are easier to protect against disclosure than

business data

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Internal use

• Statistics have their own significance but may also contribute to the larger system

• Three important internal uses:

1. Calculating ratios

2. Cross verification

3. Integration in frameworks

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Use by national accounts

• National accounts are the biggest internal user of statistics• Various accounts use different sources, e.g.:• Business, agricultural and household statistics for production,

income and expenditure accounts• Business finance statistics, government finance statistics and

financial sector statistics for financial accounts• External trade statistics for the rest of the world account etc.• In addition to national accounts, labor accounts and environmental

accounts are also big internal users

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Use by international organizations

• International organizations use (national) statistics for:• Compilation and re-dissemination, in the form of yearbooks,

special reports, and on their websites• Policy monitoring and evaluation• Social and economic analysis

• International organizations are also setting methodological standards

• International organizations provide technical assistance to enhance statistical capacity

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Monitoring and evaluation

• A particular form of use of statistics serves monitoring and evaluation

• Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) are closely related

• Monitoring is the periodic collection of data about a set of indicators, in order to reveal the outcomes of policies

• Evaluation is the systematic and objective assessment of an on-going or completed project, programme or policy

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M&E techniques

• The World Bank publishes an overview of monitoring and evaluation techniques

• Many of those imply the use of statistics

• One method is concerned with performance indicators

• Performance indicators are measures of inputs, processes, outputs, outcomes, and impacts

• When supported with sound data collection, analysis and reporting, indicators enable tracking progress

• Participation of key stakeholders in defining indicators is important

• Performance indicators can be used for: setting performance targets and assessing progress toward achieving them, identifying problems, and indicating whether an in-depth evaluation or review is needed.

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Prominent international uses of statistics

• Some prominent forms of international use of statistics are:

• Monitoring the Millennium Development Goals (MDG)• Monitoring global finance (IMF)• Monitoring compliance with dissemination standards (IMF)• Monitoring development (World Bank)

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Human Development Report

• Human Development is a development paradigm that is about enlarging people’s choices

• Each year the Human Development Report (HDR) presents a wealth of statistical information on different aspects of human development

• All these data are available for download• Every other year, alongside the Human Development Indicator

Tables a thematic statistical analysis is included • Several steps are taken each year to ensure that the HDR maintains

high quality and reliability• Nonetheless several data gaps and quality issues remain

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ILO – FAO – WHO - UNESCO

• Flagship of the International Labor Organization (ILO) statistical publications is the Yearbook of Labor Statistics

• The Bulletin of Labor Statistics complements the annual data• The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)

produces a range of statistical publications, including The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA)

• Apart from its flagship publication World Health Statistics Report, the World Health Organization (WHO) maintains the WHO Statistical Information System (WHOSIS), an interactive database

• The UNESCO Institute for Statistics produces many statistical publications, including: Global Education Digest

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Statistics and Data Quality

• Quality is always an issue with statistics.• Quality of information can adversely be affected by two main factors:

• Non sampling errors: these are mostly caused by the data sources, due to:

- Incorrect reporting due to lack of knowledge,- Incorrect reporting due to errors in administrations

• Sampling errors, due to:- Incomplete coverage- Serious non response issues,- Problems with the application of mathematical formulas

• Defining: ethics and skills

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types of use by different user categories part 2

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