Statistical Terms Glossary

In SDMX, it is the observation value that represents a concept which describes the actual values being transmitted.

Standard, skill and ability suitable for producing statistics of good quality.

Provisions for assuring the qualifications of staff and allowing staff to perform their functions without intervention motivated by non-statistical objectives.

Elements providing assurances that statistics are developed, produced and disseminated in a neutral (impartial) manner, and that all users are given equal treatment.

Elements providing assurances that the choices of sources and statistical techniques as well as decisions about dissemination are informed solely by statistical considerations.

Elements providing assurances that the statistical entity is entitled to comment on erroneous interpretation and misuse of statistics.

Arrangement within which the information provider supplies data or metadata.

Data or reference metadata reporting method that requires the provider to make the information available at an accessible web location.

Time lag between the actual delivery of the data and the target date when it should have been delivered.

Data or reference metadata reporting method that requires the provider to make the information available by means of transfer such as email or other electronic method.

Overall evaluation of data quality, based on standard quality criteria.

Guidelines focusing on quality in general and dealing with quality of statistical programmes, including measures for ensuring the efficient use of resources.

Documentation on procedures applied for quality management and quality assessment.

Guidance for users on the correct usage and known caveats of the statistics. 

Country or geographic area to which the measured statistical phenomenon relates.

Metadata describing the contents and the quality of the statistical data.

Timespan or point in time to which the measured observation is intended to refer.

Rules for disseminating statistical data to interested parties.

Schedule of statistical release dates.

Description of how the release calendar can be accessed. 

Statement describing whether and how the release policy is disseminated to the public. 

Policy for release of the data to users, scope of dissemination (e.g. to the public, to selected users), how users are informed that the data are being released, and whether the policy determines the dissemination of statistical data to all users.

Degree to which statistical information meets the real or perceived needs of clients.

Extent to which all statistics that are needed are available.

Description of requirements with respect to the statistical output.

Description of how well the disseminated statistics meet the expressed user needs. 

Organisation that supplies the data for a given instance of the statistics.

Component of a Reporting Taxonomy that gives structure to a report and links to data and metadata.

Scheme which defines the composition structure of a data report where each Component can be described by an independent Dataflow Definition or Metadataflow Definition.

Allowable value or format for Component or Concept when reported.