Innovations in Federal Statistics Combining Data Sources While Protecting Privacy (2017) / Chapter Skim
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6 Advancing the Paradigm of Combining Data Sources
6 Advancing the Paradigm of Combining Data Sources
Pages 97-108
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From page 97... ...
Together, they inform the citizenry about the current status of the economy and the well-being of the population and evaluate whether various government actions improve that status. Building on the findings and themes from the previous chapters, we discuss what is needed to facilitate the use of administrative data and other data sources for federal statistics and for research evaluating the efficacy of federal programs.
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From page 98... ...
We conclude with a discussion of the quality and usability of different data sources for federal statistics and the necessary research and evaluation that is needed both of the data and of the techniques to protect the privacy of the data. USING ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS AND OTHER SOURCES OF DATA FOR FEDERAL STATISTICS Chapters 3 and 4 discuss using government administrative and privatesector data sources to enhance federal statistics.
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From page 99... ...
The panel endorses this recommendation and notes that it is still relevant today. Evaluating alternative data sources for federal statistics can best be achieved by the statistical programs with access to other relevant sources of information.
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From page 100... ...
To this end, federal statistical agencies should create collaborative research programs to address the many challenges in using administrative data for federal statistics. RECOMMENDATION 4-1 Federal statistical agencies should systematically review their statistical portfolios and evaluate the potential benefits of using private-sector data sources.
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From page 101... ...
Although statistical agencies provide a variety of secure means to allow researchers access to their data for statistical purposes (see Chapter 5) , access to survey microdata or survey data linked to administrative records typically requires submitting a proposal to each agency whose data will be involved in the project.
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From page 102... ...
The panel believes that the nation needs a secure environment where administrative data can be statistically analyzed, evaluated for quality, and linked to surveys, other administrative datasets, and other data sources. Such an environment would need to have the authority to control access for statistical and research purposes.
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From page 103... ...
, and comprehensive legislation in 1974 that essentially prevented the establishment of a centralized database in the United States. New limitations were adopted for the use of Social Security numbers, understood at the time as the key technique to link discrete record sets containing personally identifiable information.
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From page 104... ...
In order to fully take advantage of currently available technology and administrative data sources, it is important that the proposed entity have sufficient staff with technical expertise to remain a functional, improving, and permanent entity. There are also economies of scale to be realized by a centralized entity.
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From page 105... ...
In addition to the necessary features, however, much remains undetermined. The goal is to design an entity that can address the difficulties that statistical agencies have in accessing, evaluating, and using administrative and private-sector data sources for federal statistics.
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From page 106... ...
Should the entity be located in an existing organization, or should it be a new organization? Since it needs to facilitate new uses of multiple data sources, should it be a newly funded unit in an exist ing statistical agency?
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From page 107... ...
ASSESSING DATA QUALITY AND FITNESS FOR USE As we have argued throughout this report, the federal statistical system fulfills a vital role for the country by providing high-quality, objective information for the public good and to inform decision making for both the public and private sectors. There are now real opportunities to improve the information infrastructure and federal statistics through greater access and leveraging of government administrative data and other new public and private data sources; however, there are many challenges with using these new sources, and these sources need further exploration and systematic evaluation.
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From page 108... ...
Standardized messaging systems allow transactions to proceed on a global basis: for example, the Global Legal Entity Identifier System was created to provide a globally coherent facility for identifying entities.1 If administrative and other data sources are to be used for federal statistics, standardization will be needed for entities, and standards will be needed for determining when data are "fit" for use. In Chapters 3 and 4 we offer conclusions and recommendations for statistical agencies to conduct further research on the utility and quality of administrative records and other alternative data sources for use in federal statistics.
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