How is quality of statistics managed and understood for a wider audience?

Issue title: CES plenary session 2004

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Walczak, Tadeusz

Affiliations: Central Statistical Office, Al. Niepodleglosci, 00-925 Warsaw, Poland. Tel.: +48 22 608 3289; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: The quality of statistical information is a decisive factor determining the success in fulfilling the mission of official statistics. According to the most common definition, the quality of statistics is assessed by the following seven features: relevance, accuracy, timeliness, coherence, completeness, comparability, accessibility and transparency. This definition puts the users point of view in the first place. It is of crucial importance, therefore, to learn the opinion on information needs of users as completely as possible at the initial stage of the designing of survey programmes. This paper describes the system of discussions and consultations with users on the annual survey programmes. It presents the users view on the quality of statistical information, and especially the rank given by users to individual features of the quality. Special attention is paid to satisfying the information needs of users classified as the "wider audience". The description of this user group is given, as well as the description of the methods for co-operation with them, aiming at best satisfaction of their expectations on statistics quality.

DOI: 10.3233/SJU-2004-213-405

Journal: Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, vol. 21, no. 3-4, pp. 223-230, 2004