UNDERSTANDING DATA QUALITY
A NEW ONLINE TOOL
The National Statistical Service (NSS), a community of government agencies led by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), encourages the use of statistical frameworks, principles and resources, which can help data providers and users to realise the benefits of good data management through its DATAfitness program. DATAfitness encourages the use of statistical frameworks, principles and resources which can help data providers and users to realise the benefits of good data management.
Over the past few years, the call has been put out for public policies to be informed by good evidence. Statistical information is now answering that call. Statistical information has long been recognised as being good evidence, which places it at the heart of evidence-based policy.
As part of its DATAfitness program, the NSS has developed Data Quality Online (DQO), an easy-to-use online support system for data collectors, providers and users.
DQO is the first assistant of its kind in the world and provides clear and simple support to those involved in understanding data, and using it to make decisions. DQO helps users to draft data quality statements, and can now be used to compile general purpose quality statements for a variety of data sets (e.g. Administrative data, Survey data) whilst continuing to support users to draft tailored, indicator-driven quality statements for Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Performance reporting.
The NSS officially launched the DQO in August 2010, in conjunction with the ABS. DQO is based on the nationally recognised ABS Data Quality Framework, which provides a consistent standard for describing the quality of data.
For further information on DQO or DATAfitness take a look at the NSS website. You can also email inquiries@nss.gov.au.
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