Soft numbers: problems with the quality of official data

• Published in: GeoJournal Vol. 44; no. 4; pp. 309 - 320
• Main Author: Williams, Anthony V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Kluwer Academic Publishers 1998; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bgi / Prodig; Censuses; Cities; Data analysis; Data collection; Data quality; Economic recessions; General methodology; Housing; International; International cooperation; International organizations; Official statistics; Questionnaires; Statistical analysis; Statistical data; Statistics; Term weighting; Statistical data; Enquiry; Data; Data quality; Population census
• ISSN: 0343-2521; 1572-9893
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1006821206790

There is a worsening crisis in official statistics in most if not all countries. Agency resources have been strained for many years, while they are faced with demands for more information faster. Politicians have become ever more concerned with getting 'good' numbers. These forces impinge negatively on the quality of data even where computerization has increased and become more sophisticated. Further, individuals and firms are increasingly reluctant to supply sensitive data or even any data. This paper examines the data quality situation at international, national, and local scales from the viewpoint of data users. A distressing finding is that they are ordinarily unable to obtain quality information disaggregated geographically or socially. Examples from the US, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Finland are presented. Less detailed information on quality problems and responses by international organizations and other national agencies is summarized. Techniques for remedial action and suggestions for actions by users follow.