Federal Statistics, Multiple Data Sources, and Privacy Protection

Federal Statistics, Multiple Data Sources, and Privacy Protection

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2018-01-27

Total Pages: 195

ISBN-13: 0309465370

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The environment for obtaining information and providing statistical data for policy makers and the public has changed significantly in the past decade, raising questions about the fundamental survey paradigm that underlies federal statistics. New data sources provide opportunities to develop a new paradigm that can improve timeliness, geographic or subpopulation detail, and statistical efficiency. It also has the potential to reduce the costs of producing federal statistics. The panel's first report described federal statistical agencies' current paradigm, which relies heavily on sample surveys for producing national statistics, and challenges agencies are facing; the legal frameworks and mechanisms for protecting the privacy and confidentiality of statistical data and for providing researchers access to data, and challenges to those frameworks and mechanisms; and statistical agencies access to alternative sources of data. The panel recommended a new approach for federal statistical programs that would combine diverse data sources from government and private sector sources and the creation of a new entity that would provide the foundational elements needed for this new approach, including legal authority to access data and protect privacy. This second of the panel's two reports builds on the analysis, conclusions, and recommendations in the first one. This report assesses alternative methods for implementing a new approach that would combine diverse data sources from government and private sector sources, including describing statistical models for combining data from multiple sources; examining statistical and computer science approaches that foster privacy protections; evaluating frameworks for assessing the quality and utility of alternative data sources; and various models for implementing the recommended new entity. Together, the two reports offer ideas and recommendations to help federal statistical agencies examine and evaluate data from alternative sources and then combine them as appropriate to provide the country with more timely, actionable, and useful information for policy makers, businesses, and individuals.


Book Synopsis Federal Statistics, Multiple Data Sources, and Privacy Protection by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Federal Statistics, Multiple Data Sources, and Privacy Protection written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2018-01-27 with total page 195 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The environment for obtaining information and providing statistical data for policy makers and the public has changed significantly in the past decade, raising questions about the fundamental survey paradigm that underlies federal statistics. New data sources provide opportunities to develop a new paradigm that can improve timeliness, geographic or subpopulation detail, and statistical efficiency. It also has the potential to reduce the costs of producing federal statistics. The panel's first report described federal statistical agencies' current paradigm, which relies heavily on sample surveys for producing national statistics, and challenges agencies are facing; the legal frameworks and mechanisms for protecting the privacy and confidentiality of statistical data and for providing researchers access to data, and challenges to those frameworks and mechanisms; and statistical agencies access to alternative sources of data. The panel recommended a new approach for federal statistical programs that would combine diverse data sources from government and private sector sources and the creation of a new entity that would provide the foundational elements needed for this new approach, including legal authority to access data and protect privacy. This second of the panel's two reports builds on the analysis, conclusions, and recommendations in the first one. This report assesses alternative methods for implementing a new approach that would combine diverse data sources from government and private sector sources, including describing statistical models for combining data from multiple sources; examining statistical and computer science approaches that foster privacy protections; evaluating frameworks for assessing the quality and utility of alternative data sources; and various models for implementing the recommended new entity. Together, the two reports offer ideas and recommendations to help federal statistical agencies examine and evaluate data from alternative sources and then combine them as appropriate to provide the country with more timely, actionable, and useful information for policy makers, businesses, and individuals.


Innovations in Federal Statistics

Innovations in Federal Statistics

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2017-04-21

Total Pages: 151

ISBN-13: 030945428X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Federal government statistics provide critical information to the country and serve a key role in a democracy. For decades, sample surveys with instruments carefully designed for particular data needs have been one of the primary methods for collecting data for federal statistics. However, the costs of conducting such surveys have been increasing while response rates have been declining, and many surveys are not able to fulfill growing demands for more timely information and for more detailed information at state and local levels. Innovations in Federal Statistics examines the opportunities and risks of using government administrative and private sector data sources to foster a paradigm shift in federal statistical programs that would combine diverse data sources in a secure manner to enhance federal statistics. This first publication of a two-part series discusses the challenges faced by the federal statistical system and the foundational elements needed for a new paradigm.


Book Synopsis Innovations in Federal Statistics by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Innovations in Federal Statistics written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2017-04-21 with total page 151 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Federal government statistics provide critical information to the country and serve a key role in a democracy. For decades, sample surveys with instruments carefully designed for particular data needs have been one of the primary methods for collecting data for federal statistics. However, the costs of conducting such surveys have been increasing while response rates have been declining, and many surveys are not able to fulfill growing demands for more timely information and for more detailed information at state and local levels. Innovations in Federal Statistics examines the opportunities and risks of using government administrative and private sector data sources to foster a paradigm shift in federal statistical programs that would combine diverse data sources in a secure manner to enhance federal statistics. This first publication of a two-part series discusses the challenges faced by the federal statistical system and the foundational elements needed for a new paradigm.


Federal Statistics, Multiple Data Sources, and Privacy Protection

Federal Statistics, Multiple Data Sources, and Privacy Protection

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (U.S.). Panel on Improving Federal Statistics for Policy and Social Science Research Using Multiple Data Sources and State-of-the-Art Estimation Methods

Publisher:

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 180

ISBN-13: 9780309465380

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This is the second Consensus Study Report of the Panel on Improving Federal Statistics for Policy and Social Science Research Using Multiple Data Sources and State-of-the-Art Estimation Methods. Our first report, Innovations in Federal Statistics: Combining Data Sources While Protecting Privacy, was released in January 2017. In that report, the panel noted that there has been increasing attention in recent years to using data already collected by government entities for statistical purposes, such as evaluation of government programs. These data include such records as employment and earnings information on state unemployment insurance, income reported on federal tax forms, Social Security earnings and benefits, medical conditions and payments made for services from Medicare and Medicaid records, and food assistance program benefits.


Book Synopsis Federal Statistics, Multiple Data Sources, and Privacy Protection by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (U.S.). Panel on Improving Federal Statistics for Policy and Social Science Research Using Multiple Data Sources and State-of-the-Art Estimation Methods

Download or read book Federal Statistics, Multiple Data Sources, and Privacy Protection written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (U.S.). Panel on Improving Federal Statistics for Policy and Social Science Research Using Multiple Data Sources and State-of-the-Art Estimation Methods and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the second Consensus Study Report of the Panel on Improving Federal Statistics for Policy and Social Science Research Using Multiple Data Sources and State-of-the-Art Estimation Methods. Our first report, Innovations in Federal Statistics: Combining Data Sources While Protecting Privacy, was released in January 2017. In that report, the panel noted that there has been increasing attention in recent years to using data already collected by government entities for statistical purposes, such as evaluation of government programs. These data include such records as employment and earnings information on state unemployment insurance, income reported on federal tax forms, Social Security earnings and benefits, medical conditions and payments made for services from Medicare and Medicaid records, and food assistance program benefits.


Methods to Foster Transparency and Reproducibility of Federal Statistics

Methods to Foster Transparency and Reproducibility of Federal Statistics

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2019-03-01

Total Pages: 125

ISBN-13: 0309486327

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In 2014 the National Science Foundation (NSF) provided support to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for a series of Forums on Open Science in response to a government-wide directive to support increased public access to the results of research funded by the federal government. However, the breadth of the work resulting from the series precluded a focus on any specific topic or discussion about how to improve public access. Thus, the main goal of the Workshop on Transparency and Reproducibility in Federal Statistics was to develop some understanding of what principles and practices are, or would be, supportive of making federal statistics more understandable and reviewable, both by agency staff and the public. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop.


Book Synopsis Methods to Foster Transparency and Reproducibility of Federal Statistics by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Methods to Foster Transparency and Reproducibility of Federal Statistics written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2019-03-01 with total page 125 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 2014 the National Science Foundation (NSF) provided support to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for a series of Forums on Open Science in response to a government-wide directive to support increased public access to the results of research funded by the federal government. However, the breadth of the work resulting from the series precluded a focus on any specific topic or discussion about how to improve public access. Thus, the main goal of the Workshop on Transparency and Reproducibility in Federal Statistics was to develop some understanding of what principles and practices are, or would be, supportive of making federal statistics more understandable and reviewable, both by agency staff and the public. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop.


Statistical Methods in Water Resources

Statistical Methods in Water Resources

Author: D.R. Helsel

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 1993-03-03

Total Pages: 546

ISBN-13: 9780080875088

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Data on water quality and other environmental issues are being collected at an ever-increasing rate. In the past, however, the techniques used by scientists to interpret this data have not progressed as quickly. This is a book of modern statistical methods for analysis of practical problems in water quality and water resources. The last fifteen years have seen major advances in the fields of exploratory data analysis (EDA) and robust statistical methods. The 'real-life' characteristics of environmental data tend to drive analysis towards the use of these methods. These advances are presented in a practical and relevant format. Alternate methods are compared, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each as applied to environmental data. Techniques for trend analysis and dealing with water below the detection limit are topics covered, which are of great interest to consultants in water-quality and hydrology, scientists in state, provincial and federal water resources, and geological survey agencies. The practising water resources scientist will find the worked examples using actual field data from case studies of environmental problems, of real value. Exercises at the end of each chapter enable the mechanics of the methodological process to be fully understood, with data sets included on diskette for easy use. The result is a book that is both up-to-date and immediately relevant to ongoing work in the environmental and water sciences.


Book Synopsis Statistical Methods in Water Resources by : D.R. Helsel

Download or read book Statistical Methods in Water Resources written by D.R. Helsel and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 1993-03-03 with total page 546 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Data on water quality and other environmental issues are being collected at an ever-increasing rate. In the past, however, the techniques used by scientists to interpret this data have not progressed as quickly. This is a book of modern statistical methods for analysis of practical problems in water quality and water resources. The last fifteen years have seen major advances in the fields of exploratory data analysis (EDA) and robust statistical methods. The 'real-life' characteristics of environmental data tend to drive analysis towards the use of these methods. These advances are presented in a practical and relevant format. Alternate methods are compared, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each as applied to environmental data. Techniques for trend analysis and dealing with water below the detection limit are topics covered, which are of great interest to consultants in water-quality and hydrology, scientists in state, provincial and federal water resources, and geological survey agencies. The practising water resources scientist will find the worked examples using actual field data from case studies of environmental problems, of real value. Exercises at the end of each chapter enable the mechanics of the methodological process to be fully understood, with data sets included on diskette for easy use. The result is a book that is both up-to-date and immediately relevant to ongoing work in the environmental and water sciences.


Integrating Federal Statistics on Children

Integrating Federal Statistics on Children

Author: National Research Council and Institute of Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1995-10-20

Total Pages: 227

ISBN-13: 0309052491

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Those who make and implement policies for children and families are seriously hampered by several features of the federal statistical system: categorical fragmentation, sampling strategies that follow adults and families rather than children, and lack of longitudinal data on children. This volume examines the adequacy of federal statistics on children and families. It includes papers on the relevant aspects of health care reform, family and community resources, interpersonal violence, the transition to school, and educational attainment and the transition to work.


Book Synopsis Integrating Federal Statistics on Children by : National Research Council and Institute of Medicine

Download or read book Integrating Federal Statistics on Children written by National Research Council and Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1995-10-20 with total page 227 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Those who make and implement policies for children and families are seriously hampered by several features of the federal statistical system: categorical fragmentation, sampling strategies that follow adults and families rather than children, and lack of longitudinal data on children. This volume examines the adequacy of federal statistics on children and families. It includes papers on the relevant aspects of health care reform, family and community resources, interpersonal violence, the transition to school, and educational attainment and the transition to work.


Protecting the Privacy of Student Records

Protecting the Privacy of Student Records

Author: Dona Cheung

Publisher: DIANE Publishing

Published: 1999-09

Total Pages: 154

ISBN-13: 0788181297

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The primary purpose of this document is to help state & local education agencies & schools develop adequate policies & procedures to protect information about students & their families from improper release, while satisfying the need for school officials to make sound management, instructional, & service decisions. Sections include: a primer for privacy; summary of key federal laws; protecting the privacy of individuals during the data collection process; securing the privacy of data maintained & used within an agency; providing parents access to their child's records; & releasing information outside an agency. 5 appendices.


Book Synopsis Protecting the Privacy of Student Records by : Dona Cheung

Download or read book Protecting the Privacy of Student Records written by Dona Cheung and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 1999-09 with total page 154 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The primary purpose of this document is to help state & local education agencies & schools develop adequate policies & procedures to protect information about students & their families from improper release, while satisfying the need for school officials to make sound management, instructional, & service decisions. Sections include: a primer for privacy; summary of key federal laws; protecting the privacy of individuals during the data collection process; securing the privacy of data maintained & used within an agency; providing parents access to their child's records; & releasing information outside an agency. 5 appendices.


Improving Business Statistics Through Interagency Data Sharing

Improving Business Statistics Through Interagency Data Sharing

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2006-09-11

Total Pages: 156

ISBN-13: 030918035X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

U.S. business data are used broadly, providing the building blocks for key national-as well as regional and local-statistics measuring aggregate income and output, employment, investment, prices, and productivity. Beyond aggregate statistics, individual- and firm-level data are used for a wide range of microanalyses by academic researchers and by policy makers. In the United States, data collection and production efforts are conducted by a decentralized system of statistical agencies. This apparatus yields an extensive array of data that, particularly when made available in the form of microdata, provides an unparalleled resource for policy analysis and research on social issues and for the production of economic statistics. However, the decentralized nature of the statistical system also creates challenges to efficient data collection, to containment of respondent burden, and to maintaining consistency of terms and units of measurement. It is these challenges that raise to paramount importance the practice of effective data sharing among the statistical agencies. With this as the backdrop, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) asked the Committee on National Statistics of the National Academies to convene a workshop to discuss interagency business data sharing. The workshop was held October 21, 2005. This report is a summary of the discussions of that workshop. The workshop focused on the benefits of data sharing to two groups of stakeholders: the statistical agencies themselves and downstream data users. Presenters were asked to highlight untapped opportunities for productive data sharing that cannot yet be exploited because of regulatory or legislative constraints. The most prominently discussed example was that of tax data needed to reconcile the two primary business lists use by the statistical agencies.


Book Synopsis Improving Business Statistics Through Interagency Data Sharing by : National Research Council

Download or read book Improving Business Statistics Through Interagency Data Sharing written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2006-09-11 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: U.S. business data are used broadly, providing the building blocks for key national-as well as regional and local-statistics measuring aggregate income and output, employment, investment, prices, and productivity. Beyond aggregate statistics, individual- and firm-level data are used for a wide range of microanalyses by academic researchers and by policy makers. In the United States, data collection and production efforts are conducted by a decentralized system of statistical agencies. This apparatus yields an extensive array of data that, particularly when made available in the form of microdata, provides an unparalleled resource for policy analysis and research on social issues and for the production of economic statistics. However, the decentralized nature of the statistical system also creates challenges to efficient data collection, to containment of respondent burden, and to maintaining consistency of terms and units of measurement. It is these challenges that raise to paramount importance the practice of effective data sharing among the statistical agencies. With this as the backdrop, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) asked the Committee on National Statistics of the National Academies to convene a workshop to discuss interagency business data sharing. The workshop was held October 21, 2005. This report is a summary of the discussions of that workshop. The workshop focused on the benefits of data sharing to two groups of stakeholders: the statistical agencies themselves and downstream data users. Presenters were asked to highlight untapped opportunities for productive data sharing that cannot yet be exploited because of regulatory or legislative constraints. The most prominently discussed example was that of tax data needed to reconcile the two primary business lists use by the statistical agencies.


The Future of Statistical Software

The Future of Statistical Software

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1991-02-01

Total Pages: 99

ISBN-13: 0309045991

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book presents guidelines for the development and evaluation of statistical software designed to ensure minimum acceptable statistical functionality as well as ease of interpretation and use. It consists of the proceedings of a forum that focused on three qualities of statistical software: richnessâ€"the availability of layers of output sophistication, guidanceâ€"how the package helps a user do an analysis and do it well, and exactnessâ€"determining if the output is "correct" and when and how to warn of potential problems.


Book Synopsis The Future of Statistical Software by : National Research Council

Download or read book The Future of Statistical Software written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1991-02-01 with total page 99 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents guidelines for the development and evaluation of statistical software designed to ensure minimum acceptable statistical functionality as well as ease of interpretation and use. It consists of the proceedings of a forum that focused on three qualities of statistical software: richnessâ€"the availability of layers of output sophistication, guidanceâ€"how the package helps a user do an analysis and do it well, and exactnessâ€"determining if the output is "correct" and when and how to warn of potential problems.


Reengineering the Census Bureau's Annual Economic Surveys

Reengineering the Census Bureau's Annual Economic Surveys

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2018-10-12

Total Pages: 237

ISBN-13: 0309475368

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The U.S. Census Bureau maintains an important portfolio of economic statistics programs, including quinquennial economic censuses, annual economic surveys, and quarterly and monthly indicator surveys. Government, corporate, and academic users rely on the data to understand the complexity and dynamism of the U.S. economy. Historically, the Bureau's economic statistics programs developed sector by sector (e.g., separate surveys of manufacturing, retail trade, and wholesale trade), and they continue to operate largely independently. Consequently, inconsistencies in questionnaire content, sample and survey design, and survey operations make the data not only more difficult to use, but also more costly to collect and process and more burdensome to the business community than they could be. This report reviews the Census Bureau's annual economic surveys. Specifically, it examines the design, operations, and products of 11 surveys and makes recommendations to enable them to better answer questions about the evolving economy.


Book Synopsis Reengineering the Census Bureau's Annual Economic Surveys by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Reengineering the Census Bureau's Annual Economic Surveys written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2018-10-12 with total page 237 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The U.S. Census Bureau maintains an important portfolio of economic statistics programs, including quinquennial economic censuses, annual economic surveys, and quarterly and monthly indicator surveys. Government, corporate, and academic users rely on the data to understand the complexity and dynamism of the U.S. economy. Historically, the Bureau's economic statistics programs developed sector by sector (e.g., separate surveys of manufacturing, retail trade, and wholesale trade), and they continue to operate largely independently. Consequently, inconsistencies in questionnaire content, sample and survey design, and survey operations make the data not only more difficult to use, but also more costly to collect and process and more burdensome to the business community than they could be. This report reviews the Census Bureau's annual economic surveys. Specifically, it examines the design, operations, and products of 11 surveys and makes recommendations to enable them to better answer questions about the evolving economy.