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User-friendly presentation

of statistics

An introduction to some

dissemination issues

Jan Erik Kristiansen

Madrid, March 2012

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Statistics:

- to compare numbers (and to make the numbers

comparable)

- User-friendliness = to present the numbers in a way that

encourages and enables the users to make comparisons

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But 20. 10. 2010 was also:

Information Overload Awareness Day (http://www.informationoverloadday.com/)

20. 10. 2010:

World Statistics Day

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In many NSOs dissemination is still

limited, because:

• Focus on data collection and processing

• Lack of experience (and coordination)

• ”Fear of dissemination”?

• Lack of dissemination strategy

• But: Todays increase in the no. of studies,

surveys and censuses could result in a

dramatic increase in dissemination:

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NSOs = Numerical volcanos?

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What is “user-friendliness”?

Pentax IQZoom 200 QD 35mm Film Camera

An uncompromising yet user-friendly camera, the IQZoom 200

expands the realms of photographic possibility….

• Findable/easy to find

• Understandable/informative

– figures should be comparable and easy to compare

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General motto: KISS!

• Keep It Short and Simple!

• This applies to:

– Tables

– Graphs

– Titles

– Text

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“User-friendly”?

From: 2004 Census, Qatar

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“User-friendly”?

From: Ons.dz: Emploi et Chômage (AU 4ème TRIMESTRE 2010)

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Effectif % Effectif % Effectif %

Urbain

Agriculture 268 5,1 19 1,7 287 4,5

Industrie 673 12,9 301 26,7 974 15,3

BTP 1 112 21,2 20 1,8 1 132 17,8

Commerce –services 3 182 60,8 786 69,8 3 968 62,4

Total Urbain 5 234 100,0 1 126 100,0 6 360 100,0

Rural

Agriculture 773 25,5 76 21,8 849 25,1

Industrie 251 8,3 112 32,2 363 10,8

BTP 748 24,7 5 1,5 754 22,3

Commerce –services 1 254 41,4 155 44,5 1 409 41,8

Total Rural 3 027 100,0 348 100,0 3 375 100,0

Ensemble

Agriculture 1 040 12,6 95 6,5 1 136 11,7

Industrie 924 11,2 413 28 1 337 13,7

BTP 1 860 22,5 25 1,7 1 886 19,4

Commerce –services 4 436 53,7 941 63,8 5 377 55,2

Total 8 261 100,0 1 474 100,0 9 735 100,0

Masculin Féminin Total

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“User-friendly”?

From: CAPMAS, Statistical Yearbook

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“User-friendly”?

Type of unit Total Other Unoccupied Closed Closed

Puplic

House

Housing

& Work Work Housing

Whole building 514 042 3 557 102 217 60 808 1 804 232 1 705 4 894 338 825

One Floor or more, or part of Floor 471 495 4 397 105 896 31 286 3 650 686 1 375 35 063 289 142

Flat 10 678 435 19 748 2 263 980 839 598 128 179 2 391 11 871 194 302 7 218 366

Urban A separate room or more 481 057 5 018 84 204 34 844 1 937 155 920 21 571 332 408

One shop or more 2 057 554 25 492 851 049 0 0 0 2 043 1 176 856 2 114

Garage 34 625 16 174 10 424 0 0 0 255 7 772 0

Other 45 237 14 694 10 341 0 0 1 593 13 993 5 615

Total 14 282 445 89 080 3 428 111 966 536 135 570 3 465 18 762 1 454 451 8 186 470

Whole building 3 334 854 8 472 387 875 373 959 6 539 134 21 053 10 177 2 526 645

One Floor or more, or part of Floor 847 410 10 497 109 083 62 748 1 968 274 2 957 22 376 637 507

Flat 7 062 515 10 486 1 324 618 420 136 18 910 404 11 021 34 239 5 242 701

Rural One shop or more 374 374 3 876 28 725 16 883 303 5 968 7 327 316 287

A separate room or more 1 105 453 5 435 434 209 0 0 0 1 321 662 062 2 426

Garage 21 946 11 411 6 679 0 0 0 31 3 825 0

Other 40 117 15 132 10 114 0 0 0 354 8 361 6 156

Total 12 786 669 65 309 2 301 303 873 726 27 720 817 37 705 748 367 8 731 722

Whole building 3 848 896 12 029 490 092 434 767 8 343 366 22 758 15 071 2 865 470

One Floor or more, or part of Floor 1 318 905 14 894 214 979 94 034 5 618 960 4 332 57 439 926 649

Flat 17 740 950 30 234 3 588 598 1 259 734 147 089 2 795 22 892 228 541 12 461 067

Total A separate room or more 855 431 8 894 112 929 51 727 2 240 160 1 888 28 898 648 695

One shop or more 3 163 007 30 927 1 285 258 0 0 0 3 364 1 838 918 4 540

Garage 56 571 27 585 17 103 0 0 0 286 11 597 0

Other 85 354 29 826 20 455 0 0 1 947 22 354 11 771

Total 27 069 114 154 389 5 729 414 1 840 262 163 290 4 282 56 467 2 202 818 16 918 192

Current use of the Unit

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“User-friendly”?

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0 100.0

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“User-friendly”?

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“User-friendly”?

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Increase of 600 % ?!

12000

13000

14000

15000

16000

17000

3. q 98 4. q 98 1. q 99 2. q 99 3. q 99

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

3. q 98 4. q 98 1. q 99 2. q 99 3. q 99

No, only 35%!

“User-friendly”?

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“User-friendly”?

From: Les Indicateurs sociaux du Maroc, 2009

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From: DOS, Jordan

“User-friendly”?

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“User-friendly”?

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} ?

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From: Capmas/Indicators

?

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Titles of graphs/tables:

Percentage distribution of households by type of household.

Better: Household types. Per cent

Unemployed by sex and age

Better: Unemployed men and women in different age groups

Pupil to teacher ratio

Better: Pupils per teacher

“User-friendly”?

Percentage Distribution of Jordanian Females Aged 15 Years and

above by Education Level and Urban/Rural (2006)

Better: Educational level of women 15 years + in urban and rural

areas. Per cent. 2006

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“User-friendly”?

Percentage Distribution of Jordanian Females Aged 15 Years and

above by Education Level and Urban/Rural (2006)

Better: Educational level of women 15 years + in urban and rural

areas. Per cent. 2006

Better:

Housholds in the PT connected to Networks (….) by type of locality. 2006. Per cent

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From: PCBS/Stat. Abstract of Palestine 2011

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“User-friendly”?

Better:

”When using our statistics, please refer to Statistics Xxxxxx (name of NSO) as the

source”

Copyright © 2010 CAS

All Rights Reserved From: CAS, Lebanon

© Copyright 1997- 2010 The State of Israel. All Rights Reserved

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Dissemination – some strategic issues

• The role of users

• The role of media

• Printed publications – electronic dissemination?

• Tables or analysis?

• Dissemination: Centralized or decentralized?

• Pricing policy

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The role of users?

“user-friendly” = user survey?

But many users do not know what they want!

And: We also want to attract new users!

It’s impossible to adjust the presentations to all

user groups

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User surveys?:

From: Capmas website

BETTER:

Excellent

Very good

Good

Fair

Bad

Very bad

Extremely bad?

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Traditional dissemination model

Media

The public

Libraries

Education

Government/org.

Business

NSO

The role of the media

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“New” dissemination model

The public

Libraries

Education

Government/org.

Business

NSO

Media

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The media are of vital importance

because:

• They represent an important channel of

dissemination

• They help increase the visibility and public

recognition of the NSO

– and thereby improving the publics trust in statistics

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Statistician and journalist:

Like cat and dog?

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But: We must cooperate!

Journalists are our best

friends

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Media: Rule no. 1

Equal treatment!

- Do not favour certain media (or

governmental agencies)

- No pre-release access

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Media: Rule no. 2

Establish a release schedule/calendar

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Independence:

• In many countries there is a close relationship

between the NSO and the government

• In the long run, however, too close a bond

could be damaging to the reputation of the

NSO

• Independence means that the NSO should

decide…

• What to publish

• How to publish and

• When to publish

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Printed or electronic?

• Yesterday: Printed publication first, then electronic/

Internet

• Today: Parallel publishing: Paper and Internet

simultaneously

• Tomorrow: First on the Internet, then printed version.

(In Statistics Norway, an "Internet first"-policy has been

implemented. Statistics are since June 1999 released

daily on the Internet.).

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Tables or analysis?

Numbers to the experts?

Analysis/comments to the media & the public?

But …

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The future?

Electronic Paper

Numbers/ Tables

1

(x)

Text/ Analysis

(x)

2

Publishing statistics: Two main directions?

1. Numbers/tables: On Internet

2. Text/analysis: Printed publications

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In the shadow of Internet:

Printed publications Reference publications:

“Raw material” as quick and

cheap as possible. Large

tables, absolute numbers,

databases, self-service...

Two

trends?

Presentations:

Value added: “Analysis”: Text,

tables, graphs, maps, illustrations.

Colours, nice design.

(Yearbooks) ??

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A few words about the Internet:

• The responsibility for the web service should not

be left to the IT unit

• Something for everybody

• Give priority to statistics

• Keep it simple!

• Update as often as possible

• Tables and publications should be

downloadable

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A centralized dissemination unit should…

• contribute to a long-term dissemination strategy

• publish and inform about statistical results

• establish and maintain good relations with the media

• give advice in information and dissemination matters

• organize the production line and co-ordinate the different

aspects of production (tools/programs)

• make guidelines for design and layout of publications,

tables and charts and see that these rules are being

followed

Dissemination: Centralized or decentralized?

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A centralized dissemination unit should…

• develop knowledge about the various aspects of publishing;

including design, layout and the making of tables and charts

• initiate, edit and/or co-ordinate publications and presentations

involving various subject matter departments, like yearbooks

• have the overall editorial responsibility for the web service

• co-ordinate printed and electronic dissemination

• take care of distribution, subscriptions, marketing, contact with

users, etc.

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Pricing policy

With Internet and a growing understanding of statistics as a

public good, the context of the pricing policy is changing:

- Today, charging for Internet-services is almost “impossible”

- Printed publications: Marginal costs

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To increase user-friendly dissemination…

• Every NSO should develop a dissemination strategy – to make

the organization concious of the importance of dissemination

• Strategy = plans for the day after tomorrow = road map

• But more important is the will (and ability) to implement and

carry out the plans: Action speaks louder than words”

• Dissemination policy = dissemination guide(lines): ”This is how

we do it”

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More user-

friendly

presentation of

statistics

Developing

the

Website

Better media

relations

More and

better

analyses

More and

better

metadata

Make tables

downloadable

in Excel

Guidelines

for metadata

Guidelines

for tables on

Internet

Better news

releases Etc.

Guidelines

for news

releases

Etc.

From strategy to guidelines: A schematic example

Long term strategic

goal

Policy/plans

Actions/projects

Guidelines/

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The guide does not propose any specific strategies,

policies or guidelines for the various aspects of

dissemination -

- these must be decided by the NSOs themselves,

depending on their present situation, available resources -

and ambitions

But remember: KISS!