Guiding Principles from the Code
For anyone working with data and statistics
Following the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR)’s Guiding Principles from the Code is a way for anyone, in any setting, to show they can be trusted to produce and use robust statistics that are useful and in line with users’ needs.
The Guiding Principles are grounded in the core concepts of the Code of Practice for Statistics – Trustworthiness, Quality and Value (TQV). The Code sets the standards of practice to deliver statistics that are not just numbers but reliable tools for understanding the world.
Trustworthiness
Trustworthiness is when users can have confidence in the people and organisations that produce statistics and data
To show you are trustworthy:
Dos
Integrity: Work and communicate in ethical, honest, objective and professional ways to provide the public with impartial data and statistics
Transparency: Be open about how and when data and statistics are released
Safe data management: Follow all legal and ethical obligations, being respectful of those providing their information
Don'ts
Integrity: Don’t cherry-pick data and statistics or take them out of context
Transparency: Don’t restrict the publication of statistics just because it makes for uncomfortable reading
Safe data management: Don’t share data without appropriate safeguards
Quality
Quality is when users can have confidence that the data and methods produce assured statistics
To show the statistics are of appropriate quality:
Dos
Suitable data: Clearly present key information about data sources, highlighting why data are suitable and any important issues
Sound methods: Apply sound methods, explain statistical choices, highlighting key limitations, and be open to innovation to meet emerging needs
Quality communication: Describe the quality of statistics, including details about uncertainty in estimates, and monitor for changes in quality
Don'ts
Suitable data: Don’t just trust that data are OK to use – find out about the provenance of the source
Sound methods: Don’t hide or ignore quality issues
Quality communication: Don’t assume quality remains static
Value
Value is when users can have confidence that published statistics support society’s needs for information
To show the statistics are valuable:
Dos
Relevancy: Answer important questions, understand the needs of users and listen and act on their feedback
Accessibility: Ensure equality of access when publishing, meet accessibility standards and keep information available
Clear data presentation: Ensure data are easy to work with, understandable and meet users’ needs
Don'ts
Relevancy: Don’t assume you know your users’ needs
Accessibility: Don’t limit access to information that has a public interest
Clear data presentation: Don’t present too much information, confusing colours or 3D charts
Committing to uphold the Guiding Principles
The Royal Statistical Society has suggested that any statistics that benefit society by offering insight on the questions that people want answered, whether they come from official or non-official sources, can be thought of as public statistics – they are valuable to the public. Producers of public statistics are encouraged to be part of the voluntary application scheme run by OSR, applying TQV.
Analysts participating in the scheme are among a community of practitioners who want to ensure confidence in how they produce and use data and statistics, supporting the application of the Code standards and providing challenge to show how well the standards are met.
Application of the Guiding Principles can be enhanced by considering:
Standards for Official Statistics
The Standards for Official Statistics build on the Guiding Principles by setting out the specific statistical practices expected of official statistics producers. Official statistics become accredited official statistics when they have been verified by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) to meet these standards.
Other producers beyond official statistics can also consider the standards and see how they can enhance their preparation and release of statistics into the public domain.
Standards for Intelligent Transparency
OSR’s Standards for Intelligent Transparency, also grounded in the Guiding Principles, set out how public bodies can support public confidence in the use of data, statistics and analysis, by ensuring that they are communicated in a way that means they can be easily accessed, scrutinised and used appropriately.
Accountability guidance
Producers of statistics should see themselves as accountable to their users and can apply OSR’s accountability framework to provide reassurance about how they demonstrate Trustworthiness, Quality and Value.
Further information about the core concepts of Trustworthiness, Quality and Value is given in Understanding the Code and how it supports the public good.
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