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Part 1: Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency
Pages 1-12

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From page 1...
... · ~ Wide Dissemination :of Data ~ - ~ , .
From page 2...
... It may include assembling information from a variety of sources, including other statistical agencies, in order tO produce an integrated data series, such as the national income and product accounts. Analysis may take various forms, such as developing indicators, modeling, making projections, and interpreting data.
From page 3...
... Even more, the operation of a democratic system of government depends on the unhindered flow of statistical information that citizens can use to assess government actions and for other purposes. Federal statistical agencies are established to be a credible source of useful, accurate statistics in one or more subject areas that are available to the public and policy makers on a timely basis.
From page 4...
... A statistical agency must be knowledgeable about the issues and requirements of public policy and federal programs and able to provide objective information that is relevant to policy and program needs. In establishing priorities for statistical programs for this purpose, a statistical agency must work closely with the users of such information in the executive branch, the Congress, and interested nongovernmental groups.
From page 5...
... A Clearly Defined and Well-Accepted Mission An agency's mission should include responsibility for all elements of its programs for providing statistical information: determining sources of data, measurement methods, efficient methods of data collection and processing, and appropriate methods of analysis; and ensuring the public availability not only of the data, but also of documentation of the methods used to obtain the data and their quality. The mission should include the responsibility for assessing information needs and priorities and ways to meet those needs, which could include the establishment of a data collection program or the modification or discontinuance of an existing program.
From page 6...
... · recognition by policy officials outside the statistical agency of its authority to release statistical information without prior clearance. · authority for statistical agency heads and qualified staff to speak about the agency's statistics before Congress, with congressional staff, and before public bodies.
From page 7...
... · dissemination policies that foster regular, frequent release of major findings from an agency's statistical programs to the public via the media, the Internet, and other means. Continual Development of More Usefid Data Statistical agencies must continually look to improve their data systems to provide information that is accurate, timely, and relevant for changing public policy needs.
From page 8...
... Elements of an elective dissemination program inclucle: · an established publications policy that describes, for a data collection program, the types of reports and other data releases to be made available, the audience to be served, and the frequency of release. · a variety of avenues for data dissemination, chosen to reach as broad a public as reasonably possible.
From page 9...
... policies and procedures to respect the privacy of respondents, which include informing them of the purposes of data collection and the anticipated uses of the information, whether their participation is mandatory or voluntary, and, if voluntary, using appropriate informed consent procedures to obtain their information. · farther respecting privacy by minimizing the contribution of time and effort asked of respondents, consistent with the purposes of the data collection activity.
From page 10...
... Commitment to Quality and Professional Standards of Practice A statistical agency should: · use modern statistical theory and sound statistical practice in all technical work. · develop strong staff expertise in the disciplines relevant to its mission, in the theory and practice of statistics, and in data collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination techniques.
From page 11...
... Research should also be conducted on ways to reduce the time and effort requested of respondents and to improve the timeliness, accuracy, and efficiency of data collection, analysis, and dissemination procedures. research to understand the policy uses of the agency's information, .
From page 12...
... When possible and appropriate, federal statistical agencies should cooperate not only with each other, but also with state and local statistical agencies in the provision of data for subnational areas. Federal statistical agencies should also cooperate with foreign and international statistical agencies to exchange information on both data and methods and to develop common classifications and procedures to promote international comparability of information.


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