The Code for everyone
Ed Humpherson explains how the work of the Office for Statistics Regulation supports the 바카라 사이트 Analysis Function
Good analysis is inherently multi-disciplinary. It draws on a range of professional perspectives and it is driven by providing insight into problems, and answers to questions.
So too is the work of the Office for Statistics Regulation(OSR). We support the entire analysis function.
We do this in two ways.
First, through the . This Code is not a set of rules for rigid application to official statistics. It is a philosophy, built around three principles: trustworthiness, quality and value; and it is a philosophy that focuses on how to support confidence in analytical work.
These concepts of trustworthiness, quality and value should underpin all analytical work. Trustworthiness is about providing evidence of how you바카라 사이트™ve followed a rigorous process, had rigorous governance. It aligns closely with other sources of guidance, like the Aqua Book. Quality is about ensuring that the figures that you produce are not misleading 바카라 사이트“ that they represent the best estimate based on the data available. Quality is consistent with professional guides like the Green Book. And value is about ensuring that your analysis addresses the questions raised by your customer 바카라 사이트“ whether that be a Minister, a policy team, or a Parliamentary committee.
Indeed, the idea of value that is a core part of the Code is central to good analysis. Good analysis enables the relevant department or agency to make good policy, deliver good services, address risks and create opportunities 바카라 사이트¯The analysis will provide value to an organisation 바카라 사이트“ it is needing the analysis to support some activities 바카라 사이트“which in turn provides benefits to society.
So the Code has wide applicability. But OSR wouldn바카라 사이트™t take a role in reviewing or commenting on internal advice within government. Our support, through the Code, is therefore indirect 바카라 사이트“ but no less valuable for that.
But OSR does support the whole analysis function more directly in a second way: we stand up for appropriate use of analysis in the public domain. This is because a lot of the analysis function바카라 사이트™s work is published in one form or another, and informs public debate. When the 바카라 사이트 communicates policy or delivery, it does so not just using the regularly published official statistics. It draws on a wider range of analytical outputs 바카라 사이트“ economic modelling, social research, operational research, data science.
For example during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we have stepped in on several occasions to encourage departments to publish information that Ministers have referred to in their explanations of policy. We바카라 사이트™ve done this on rough sleeping, Universal Credit, as well as a range of more directly health-related issues. We have also sought to protect analysis from inappropriate interpretation 바카라 사이트“ to ensure that the analysis is fairly represented. We did this for example on analysis in Scotland of the impact on care homes of discharging people from hospital.
When we do this, we are quite deliberately standing up for the analysis function 바카라 사이트“ we want your work to be used appropriately and fairly.
That바카라 사이트™s because we바카라 사이트™re not a regulator of statisticians as a professional group. We바카라 사이트™re a regulator that supports the publication of statistics to serve the public good 바카라 사이트“ and the focus is not just on official statistics, but a broader range of outputs that draw on numerical analysis. They should all be trustworthy, high quality and high value. These goals of the Code of Practice 바카라 사이트“ trustworthiness, quality and value 바카라 사이트“ are also the goals that sit at the heart of the public use of analysis.
Most importantly, we always defend the principle of equality of access. If the 바카라 사이트 refers to a model or a piece of research, it should be easy for the public to access the underlying information.
The word public is crucial here. We do not want to over-reach. We focus on numbers in the public eye. So much of the work of analysts is in fact in support of policy and operational decisions within 바카라 사이트 바카라 사이트“ for example, looking at the potential impact of different policy options. There are fantastic tools available to support this work 바카라 사이트“ the Green Book and the Aqua Book for example. We don바카라 사이트™t see OSR as having a role in this crucial aspect of analysis.
But when analysis goes into the public domain, the Code바카라 사이트™s principles are all triggered. And especially the principle of equality of access.
So perhaps the message of this blog is this. It doesn바카라 사이트™t matter if you바카라 사이트™re a social researcher or a geographer; an operational researcher or an actuary. The Code is a framework to support confidence in your work no matter what the audience. And whether or not your analysis goes public, think TQV: trustworthiness, quality and value!
Written by Ed Humpherson, Office for Statistics Regulation