Regulatory Guidance: Dashboards
This guidance outlines the principles that statistics producers should adopt when developing or using a dashboard to disseminate official statistics and data, in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics.
This guidance should be used alongside the Government Analysis Function data visualisation: dashboards guidance to guide statistics producers’ in the use and development of dashboards within their organisation.
We use the term ‘statisticians’ or ‘analysts’ to refer to the teams responsible for producing official statistics outputs.
What is a ‘dashboard’?
A dashboard is a visual tool used to share data. Government departments and public bodies often use dashboards to present headline estimates on a specific topic. They help users navigate data efficiently and can also be interactive, providing users with additional functionality to interrogate data sets. Dashboards are typically updated frequently and can be automated to always include the latest statistics.
There are many different types of dashboards. How they are used within official statistics releases varies considerably. We often see dashboards forming part of a statistical release alongside a bulletin or article, giving users bespoke access to data used in the release and helping them visualise trends. Dashboards are also often used to bring multiple sources of data into one place.
When should I use a dashboard?
A dashboard can be a useful communication tool. It can facilitate access to published datasets and statistics at aggregate and granular breakdowns. Understanding how the statistics are used, and by whom, is therefore important.
User needs should be put at the forefront of any decision about whether a dashboard is needed and for how long it will be updated and maintained. Our ‘dashboard questions’ may help you in considering the value of a dashboard for any statistical output. When using dashboards to disseminate official statistics, organisations should also follow guidance from the Government Statistical Service, such as its data visualisation: dashboards guidance. After answering these questions, you may find you do not need a dashboard. A less complex product may meet user needs.
If a user need for a dashboard is identified, it is important to check that adequate resource is available to develop and maintain it. A dashboard should remain relevant and useful and continually meet user needs. Statistics producers should have processes in place to maintain the quality and value of a dashboard used in an official statistics release. Producers should also have processes in place from the start for archiving content as these will be difficult to implement otherwise.
Can I use a dashboard to release official statistics?
Many producers publish dashboards alongside an official statistics bulletin as an additional tool to support different types of users. In exceptional circumstances, producers may decide to use a dashboard as the sole method for publishing official statistics without being accompanied by a bulletin. The decision to use dashboards as the first release of official statistics requires careful consideration as the dashboard must comply with the Code of Practice for Statistics. This can present some challenges and so this approach is not generally recommended.
When using a dashboard for the first release of official statistics, producers need to consider:
- compliance with accessibility legislation and ensuring the data are equally available to all
- managing any potential technological issues or risks that may undermine orderly release
- orderly release, including adherence to pre-release access protocols and publishing at 9.30am on a weekday unless an exception has been granted
- pre-announcing new data updates of the dashboard through a pre-release calendar at least 4 weeks in advance where possible
- ensuring errors and revisions are handled in line with policy and a record of any impacts are clearly explained to users
- in absence of a statistical bulletin providing sufficient information to users to support interpretation of the statistics including information on insights from the data and the methodology including strengths and limitations