Chapter navigation
TQV as an ethical framework
Overview of TQV
The Code is built on a simple insight: confidence in statistics depends on more than methodological rigour. It arises from the interaction of three interdependent elements:
- the behaviours and culture of those producing statistics
- the robustness of the data and methods
- the way statistics are communicated and used
These elements are captured in the three core principles of Trustworthiness, Quality and Value, outlined below. The TQV framework is holistic in recognising that process, context and communication are integral to the meaning and use of statistics. As the Code emphasises, statistics are only effective when both the numbers and the ways they are handled serve the public good (OSR, 2025b).
Trustworthiness: confidence in people and institutions
Trustworthiness addresses a fundamental question: why should users trust the statistics they see?
The answer lies not only in formal safeguards but in the behaviours and culture of the producer organisations. The Code deliberately emphasises trustworthiness rather than ‘trust’, following the work of Baroness Onora O’Neill who said that “if we want others to trust us, the first step is to be trustworthy” (O’Neill, 2013). Trustworthiness within the Code requires integrity, transparency and independence, ensuring that statistics are produced free from undue influence and presented impartially.
In practice, trustworthiness is often most visible when it is under pressure. Decisions about timing of releases, handling of revisions or responses to criticism all signal whether an organisation is genuinely committed to openness. Importantly, the Code extends this concept beyond statisticians themselves. Trustworthiness applies equally to those who use statistics in the public domain, recognising that confidence can be undermined if figures are presented selectively or without context. The incorporation within the Code of OSR’s concept of ‘intelligent transparency’, which means proactively taking an open, clear and accessible approach to the use of data, statistics and wider analysis in the public domain, has strengthened this expectation on public bodies in the UK (OSR, 2025c).
Quality: beyond accuracy to transparency
Quality is often understood as technical accuracy. The Code broadens this perspective, defining quality in terms of fitness for purpose, transparency and continuous improvement.
This reflects an important reality: all data have limitations. Administrative data may be incomplete and survey data are subject to sampling error, while new types of data sources and methodologies are evolving rapidly. The risk arises not solely from these limitations, but from failing to communicate them clearly.
By emphasising openness about uncertainty and limitations, the Code focuses on the importance of communication. Producers are expected not only to ensure robustness, but also to explain where caution is needed. This approach plays a critical role in combating misinformation. When limitations are clearly stated, it becomes harder for statistics to be misinterpreted or overstated.
Value: enabling understanding for public use
While Trustworthiness and Quality establish credibility, Value ensures relevance and impact by informing and supporting decision making, action and debate. Statistics that are technically sound but poorly communicated or misaligned with user needs will fail to inform decisions.
The Code frames value as an ongoing relationship between producers and users, requiring engagement, clarity and accessibility. Producers are encouraged to anticipate how statistics might be interpreted, to present them clearly, and to support appropriate use.
This proactive approach is particularly important in a misinformation context. Misinterpretation often arises not from bad intent, but from gaps in understanding. By designing outputs with users in mind, producers can reduce these risks.
TQV and the public good in the context of misinformation
The Code acknowledges the challenge of the changing information environment where data are abundant but variable in quality and communication is rapid and often simplified. Misinformation can spread quickly and widely, and corrections or clarifications do not keep pace. Within this context, trust is fragile. Users must constantly assess which sources are credible and which claims are reliable.
TQV provides a structured way for producers to respond to this threat by promoting an environment and culture that supports robust production and use of statistics, strengthened by a central focus on serving the public good. The Code designs the three core principles to be “resilient safeguards” against threats to the public good (OSR, 2025b). This resilience is key: it shifts the focus from reactive interventions to system-wide confidence building.
Extending the Code: Standard for the Public Use of Statistics
A significant development in Code 3.0 is the introduction of the Standards for the Public Use of Statistics, Data and Wider Analysis (OSR, 2025c). These standards reflect a growing recognition that the point of greatest risk for misinformation is often communication, not production. Statistics may be robust, but when summarised in speeches, infographics or social media, their meaning can change.
The standards therefore set expectations for all public bodies, emphasising:
- Equality of access, ensuring figures are available to everyone
- Supporting understanding, through clear and accurate communication
- Decision-making and leadership, grounded in expert advice
At their core is the concept of intelligent transparency: a proactive commitment to openness that anticipates how information will be used and ensures it is accessible and understandable from the outset (OSR, 2025c). This represents a shift from passive transparency (making data available) to active transparency (making data usable and interpretable).
Back to top