Standard one of the Standards for Official Statistics in the Code of Practice for Statistics speaks to the actions of those producing and using official statistics so they can show they are trustworthy.
At the heart of the standard are the Civil Service values, applied to working with official statistics: integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality. The standard requires ethical practice and care, to maintain public confidence in statistical independence. It also highlights the need to challenge misuse of statistics.
Impartial and objective use of statistics is allied to the Standards for the Public Use of Statistics, Data and Wider Analysis which emphasise the importance of avoiding the selective use of data.
This practice is relevant to senior leaders and others in the organisation using official statistics, as well as to those producing the statistics.
The Standard
1. Producers must act with integrity, working and communicating in honest, objective and professional ways, and challenging misuse – so that the public can have confidence in the behaviours of those involved in handling and using data and statistics
1.1 Act professionally, work collaboratively and behave responsibly
1.2 Handle data and statistics with honesty and integrity, in ways that serve the public good
1.3 Present statistics impartially and objectively, ensuring statistical communication is balanced and does not mislead. Provide clear explanations to support appropriate interpretation of key messages
1.4 Monitor the use of your statistics. Challenge notable misuse of the statistics or raise concerns with the Office for Statistics Regulation
Questions to consider
1. Being professional
How do you ensure you work to these professional standards? What opportunities are there for further collaboration, such as with other analysts, other professional groups and users?
2. Providing reassurance
What behaviours and actions show you are trustworthy? Would users be convinced? What else can you do to show you are trustworthy?
3. Objective and impartial
In what ways do you ensure that your statistical presentation is objective? How else can you provide an impartial perspective? Have you left out anything from your statistics that would change users’ interpretation?
4. Pre-empting misunderstanding
How can you anticipate the aspects of your statistics that might lead to misunderstandings? What do you provide to support the appropriate interpretation? What further steps could you take to mitigate risks of misunderstanding?
5. Challenging misuse
How do you monitor for the deliberate or accidental misuse of your statistics? How would your organisation challenge misuse? When would you seek advice from senior statistical leads or OSR? How should you act to prevent examples of misuse occurring?
Related guidance
Office for Statistics Regulation:
Government Statistical Service (GSS):
- GSS competency framework
- Guide to GSS statistical techniques and tools
- Reporting concerns under the Code of Practice for Statistics
UN Fundamental Principles:
Other professional codes
Government Social Researchers:
Market Research Society:
UK Research and Innovation:
Good practice examples
Blogs:
- Analysis Function: Growing public trust in statistics through collaborative communication and intelligent transparency
- OSR: Whose line is it anyway? Why the misleading presentation of statistics cannot be dismissed as just a matter of opinion
- OSR: Demonstrating transparency and integrity to support public trust
- OSR: Transparency, integrity, and independence: the keys to improving Budget scrutiny and public understanding of risks to public finances
- OSR: Is a picture really worth a thousand words?
Case study:
- Office for Rail and Regulation: Independent production and the managed handling of statistics and data
Code of Practice for Statistics
- Understanding TQV
- The Code Principles
- Standards for Official Statistics
- Standards for the Public Use of Statistics, Data and Wider Analysis
- Code Guidance – other short guides supporting use of the Code