16 Principle 3: Managing Statistical Standards Standards refer to a comprehensive set of statistical concepts, definitions, classifications and models, methods and procedures used to achieve the uniform treatment of statistical issues within or across processes and across time and space. The use of standards promotes the consistency and efficiency of statistical systems at all levels. This Principle is managed through the following three requirements, see Table 3.3:
17
Table 3.3
Principle 3: Managing Statistical Standards
Requirement
Element to be assured
Description
3.1
The statistical agencies cooperate in
the development and
implementation of international,
regional and national statistical
standards.
The NSOs actively works with other statistical agencies and
international and regional statistical organizations in
developing, reviewing, promoting and implementing
statistical standards
NSOs either adapt or adopt the international,
regional and national statistical standards and
use them in statistics production
The NSOs has an organizational unit responsible for
facilitating and coordinating the adoption and development
of international, regional and national statistical standards
and for supporting statistical programs/domains in their
efforts to adopt and develop such standards
All relevant staff in statistical agencies are aware of
statistical standards and any changes made to them
There is a repository and a list of all standard classifications
available in all statistical agencies
The process for originating, developing and approving
statistical standards involves statistics producers, data
providers and data users
The impact of the adoption of new statistical standards is
assessed, documented and communicated to users; where
applicable conversion tables are provided
The statistical agencies use conceptual frameworks, such as the System of National Accounts, that provide a basis for integrating statistical information Statistical standards (concepts, definitions, classifications, etc.) are regularly reviewed. 3.2 The National Statistical Office provides support and guidance to all The NSOs monitors the extent to which statistical standards are used by data providers and producers of official There should be manuals and guidelines for use by anyone who produces statistics. They should
18
Requirement
Element to be assured
Description
data providers and producers of
official
statistics
in
the
implementation
of
statistical
standards.
statistics
guide on how to design and implement
statistical programs
Periodic reports are prepared with regard to compliance
with
international,
regional
and
national
statistical
standards
Statistical standards are communicated and made available
to all data providers and producers of official statistics
Plans and schedules for the development and application of
new standards are communicated in advance
The NSOs assists other statistics producers and data
providers in implementing international, regional, and
national statistical standards as appropriate
3.3
Divergences from the international,
regional,
or
national
statistical
standards are kept to a minimum,
documented and explained to all
stakeholders.
Concordance tables to international, regional, and national
standard classifications are developed and made available
in case diverging standards are used
Deviations from the international, regional, or
national
statistical
standards
should
be
documented as part of the statistical reports that
are
produced
and
comparison/conversion
methods be provided
The
adopted
standards
(concepts,
definitions,
classifications, etc.) are explained to all stakeholders
Stakeholders are informed about the compliance with
international, regional and national statistical standards
19 3.2 Level B: Managing the Institutional Environment The institutional and organizational environment of the statistical activity significantly influences the efficiency and credibility of the National Statistical System in the production and dissemination of quality official statistics. The institutional environment covers the following six principles: a) Assuring professional independence b) Assuring impartiality and objectivity c) Assuring transparency d) Assuring statistical confidentiality and data security e) Assuring commitment to quality f) Assuring adequacy of resources
3.2.1 Principle 4: Assuring Professional Independence
NSOs and Statistical Units should develop, produce, and disseminate statistics without
any political or other interference or pressure from other government agencies or policy,
regulatory or administrative departments and bodies, the private sector, or any other
persons or entities which may be considered as potential conflicts of interest. Such
professional independence and freedom from inappropriate influence ensures the
credibility of official statistics. This should apply to national statistical offices and may or
may not apply to statistical units within ministries, central banks, etc. The requirements
for assuring professional independence are explained in Table 3.4.
20
Table 3.4
Principle 4: Assuring Professional Independence
Requirement
Element to be assured
Description
4.1
A law or other formal provision explicitly
declares that statistical agencies are obligated
to
develop,
produce
and
disseminate
statistics without interference from other
government agencies or policy, regulatory or
administrative
departments
and
bodies,
including from within the statistical agencies,
private sector or any other persons or entities.
The professional independence of the NSOs and
other producers of official statistics such as statistical
units within ministries, departments and agencies at
the different levels of governments is guaranteed by
the laws and regulations under which the ministries,
departments and agencies operate.
There should be provisions in the Statistics
Act or its Regulations that explicitly provide
mandate to NSOs to develop, produce and
disseminate statistics. Such provisions should
also emphasize the independence of NSOs
and freedom of interference from any other
body
If there is no law nor formal provision declaring the
necessity of professional independence, there are
traditions or cultures of professionalism, historical
precedents
or
conventions
which
are
clearly
recognized as essential to the credibility of the
statistical results of the statistical agencies.
4.2
The appointment of the heads of the national
statistical office, and other statistical agencies
where appropriate, is based on professional
criteria and follow transparent procedures.
Reasons for dismissal cannot include reasons
affecting professional independence. The
heads of the statistical agencies are of the
highest professional calibre.
National legislation provides clear and detailed
description of the procedure for appointment and
dismissal of the head of the NSOs.
There should be clear documented guidance
on how the heads are appointed and also
how they are dismissed. Such document
include Statistics Act, Scheme of Service,
Public Service Standing Order, Public Service
Act and its Regulation
The rules applied for appointing, assigning position
and responsibilities and dismissing the heads of the
statistical agencies are based on professional
competence, transparent and free from political
considerations.
Processes are in place to ensure that the heads of the
statistical agencies are of the highest professional
calibre
The head of the NSOs has sufficiently high
hierarchical standing to ensure access to the political
and administrative leadership of government bodies.
The heads of statistical units within other statistical agencies have the necessary qualifications, knowledge and capacity.
21
Requirement
Element to be assured
Description
The basis and process for the termination or removal
of the head of the NSOs and statistical units within
government producing official statistics are specified
in
the
legal
framework
and
administrative
regulations. These cannot include reasons affecting
professional or scientific independence.
4.3 The head of the national statistical office and other statistical agencies where appropriate has sole responsibility over the decisions on statistical methods, standards and procedures, and on the content and timing of statistical releases. The head of the NSOs and statistical units within government producing official statistics, decides independently and based on professional considerations on the statistical methods, standards and procedures for the development, production and dissemination of official statistics. There should be a guiding document that explicitly set out roles and responsibilities of the heads. These roles should be solely on statistical management including ensuring standards and quality of those statistics. These includes Statistics Act, Job description, Scheme of Service, Public Service Standing Order The reporting of the NSOs to its administratively superordinate government bodies and to ministries, department and agencies does not affect its professional independence.
22 3.2.2 Principle 5: Assuring Impartiality and Objectivity NSOs and Statistical Units should develop, produce and disseminate statistics respecting scientific independence and in a manner that is professional, transparent, neutral and unbiased, in which all users are treated equitably. This principle is supported by seven quality requirements as shown in Table 3.5.
23
Table 3.5
Principle 5: Assuring Impartiality and Objectivity
Requirement
Element to be assured
Description
5.1
There is a law or formal provision in
force, which is publicly available, and
which specifies that statistical agencies
should
develop,
produce
and
disseminate
statistics
following
professional standards and treat all users
in the same way.
Professional cultures and traditions assure the
impartiality and objectivity of the statistics produced
by the statistical agencies independently from the
existence or absence of any laws or formal provisions
There should be a provision in the Statistics Act that
explains
the
mandate
of
the
NSOs
on
the
development,
production
and
dissemination
of
statistics. The provision should be extended to
emphasize adherence to regional and international
professional standards. This Act should be available to
the public. Equally important, the existence of code of
ethics and conduct for statisticians serves the purpose
of evidence
The objectivity and impartiality of official statistics is
recognized (and not disputed) by neutral observers
and the public (e.g. measured by image studies)
5.2
The statistical agencies implement a
declaration or code of conduct or ethics
which governs statistical practices, and
compliance with it is followed up.
There are ethical guidelines or a code of conduct for
assuring impartiality and objectivity
The NSOs should have code of ethics and conduct for
statisticians which are in operation
The guidelines are available to the public
The implementation of the guidelines is followed up
5.3
Data sources and methodologies are
chosen on an objective basis.
Data sources, concepts, methods and processes for the
development, production and dissemination are
chosen on the basis of statistical considerations,
national and international principles and best
practices.
The choice of data sources and methods must reflect
the need for statistics. Higher-level decision minutes
which are based on cost-effectiveness and value for
money serve as evidence
5.4
Statistical
releases
are
clearly
distinguished
from
political/policy
statements.
Statistical releases and statements made to the media
are objective and strictly based on the available
evidence and not taking any position on a political
issue.
The statistical release should be disseminated without
any political affiliation or preference
Appropriate internal and external communication
strategies exist that include recognizable logos,
designs or formats for statistical agencies’ products to
identify them as not being associated with any
political or policy bodies
5.5
Statistical release dates and times are
announced in advance.
A publicly available and easily accessible release
calendar containing information on the releases
The release calendar needs to be disseminated to the
public at the beginning of program implementation
24
Requirement
Element to be assured
Description
planned in the upcoming 12-month period exists
period (preferably beginning of the financial year)
Statistics are released at a fixed date and time
Changes in the release calendar are announced in
advance and their reasons are explained
The sharing of statistical results ahead of the official
release (privileged pre-release) is kept to a minimum,
well-justified, strictly controlled and documented
5.6
In the case that errors are detected, they
are corrected as soon as possible, and
users are informed about how they
affected the released statistics.
There is an established policy on how to correct
published data when errors are discovered. The error
treatment policy is publicly available
NSOs should inform the public through Press Release
or any relevant mechanism on any error observed in
statistics produced
5.7
The
statistical
agencies
comment
publicly
on
statistical
issues,
misinterpretation and misuse of official
statistics, as appropriate.
There is a formal policy or well-established custom
entitling statistical agencies to comment publicly on
statistical issues, criticisms, misinterpretations and
misuses of official statistics
A Press Conference or Release can be used to inform
the public on such statistical issues
The statistical agencies respond, as appropriate, to
negative media reporting to facilitate fair reporting of
its positions
25 3.2.3 Principle 6: Assuring Transparency The NSOs shall inform users about sources and methods used to produce statistics. Also, to facilitate proper interpretation of data. This will be supported by Policies and management practices, and the terms and conditions under which statistics are developed, produced and disseminated and, if applicable, subsequently revised (including the legal basis and purposes for which the data are required), are documented and available to users, respondents, owners of source data and the public. This Principle is supported by two requirements which are explained in Table 3.6.