Trustworthiness
Building confidence in the people and organisations that produce statistics and data
To show you are trustworthy:
1 Show integrity
Do present and use data and statistics objectively, being impartial and professional
Don’t withhold or misrepresent data or statistics due to political or commercial influence
2 Lead responsibly
Do foster evidence-based decision making based on strong, professional analytical skills and promoting TQV
Don’t rely on biased evidence, be unwilling to listen to diverse views or refuse to adapt to changing circumstances
3 Be transparent
Do be open about how, when and to whom you will release data and statistics
Don’t restrict the release of statistics because they make for uncomfortable reading or be reluctant to explain corrections or revisions
4 Manage data responsibly
Do collect, use and share data in line with legal obligations and ethical principles and be open about choices made
Don’t ignore the rights of those providing their data or overlook risks to the disclosure of their personal or corporate information
Quality
Data and methods that produce assured statistics
To ensure the statistics are of suitable quality:
5 Prioritise quality
Do promote and take a proactive approach to quality and continuous improvement, learning constructively from both mistakes and good practice
Don’t discourage innovation or collaboration or dismiss quality issues raised by staff, data suppliers, partners, topic experts or users
6 Be rigorous
Do use suitable data sources and sound methods to meet intended uses, applying recognised professional standards
Don’t assume data are suitable or ignore quality issues or the implications of system and method changes on their continued suitability
7 Be open about quality
Do clearly describe the quality of data and statistics, including uncertainty and bias in estimates and impacts on appropriate interpretation and use
Don’t assume quality remains static or fail to communicate key quality or methods information that could result in a misleading interpretation or wrong decision
Value
Statistics that support society’s needs for information
To ensure the statistics are valuable:
8 Be relevant
Do judge what is needed by listening and responding promptly to user feedback, explaining your choices about what can be reasonably progressed
Don’t make assumptions about what is useful or ignore requests for improvements
9 Be clear
Do ensure that data and statistics are easy to use and understandable, and tailored to your audience’s needs
Don’t present too much information, use confusing colours or jargon or present insufficient information to enable appropriate interpretation or use
10 Be accessible
Do ensure easy access for all when publishing data, statistics and supporting material and meet legal accessibility standards
Don’t limit access to information or create barriers to data sharing or reuse where there is a public interest
