GETTING THE FACTS RIGHT
A guide to presenting metadata with examples on
Millennium Development
What are metadata?
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
data that defines or describes other data
“information that is needed to be able to use and
interpret statistics” (Eurostat)
With metadata
Without metadata
Source: United Nations Statistics Division (2003). Indicators for Monitoring the Millennium Development Goals.
UNDP Guide to
Measuring Human
Development
“… a reference tool
that provides
guidance on statistical
principles…”
Metadata: particularly important for
MDG-related reports and data
Metadata
management:
a strategic priority
for statistical
systems
Types of metadata
Statistical
metadata
Structural
metadata
Reference
metadata
Concepts
Methods
Quality
Uses of statistical metadata
Data discovery
 Define and describe data resources
 Drive statistical production
 Capture information about sources
 Integral to the IT environment
 Describe quality of outputs

Source: Graeme Oakley, Australian Bureau of Statistics
www.unescap.org/stat/apex/2/APEX2_S.4_conference_Statistical%20Metadata%20Standards.pdf
International standards and guides

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
Excellent resources already exist
UNECE Working Group on Statistical Metadata
(METIS)
Little guidance on metadata for development
indicators
Common Metadata Framework


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Evolving online
reference
Statistical metadata
portal
Developed by experts
Maintained by UNECE
www.unece.org
Handbook on Data and Metadata Reporting



Comprehensive guide
to publishing
metadata
Available in English
and French
www.oecd-ilibrary.org
Generic
Statistical
Information
Model (GSIM)
Generic Statistical
Business Process
Model (GSBPM)
A guide for managers



Principles of good
management
Explains Statistical
Metadata in a Corporate
Context
Central systems and tools
Vocabularies
 Classification management
 Question databases

Benefits of managing metadata






Everyone uses up-to-date
classifications and definitions
Gain resources
Higher morale and productivity
Capitalising on lessons learned
Easier for data users to
understand
Increased trust in official statistics
Producing
statistics
Using
statistics
Improving
statistics
Metadata for MDG indicators
Specific and
succinct
Interpret data being
presented
Understand
comparability
Detailed metadata
General and
detailed
General and related
information
Metadata for MDG indicators
Specific and
succinct
Mandatory
Conditional
Optional
General and
detailed
UNECE Recommendations
1. Title describing data being presented
2. Data provider
3. Statistical concepts and definitions
4. Comparability (geographical/time)
5. Source data
6. Symbols or abbreviations
7. Accuracy
8. Contact information
9. References / Relevant links
Mandatory
Conditional
Optional
Mandatory metadata
2. Data provider
1. Title
describing data
being presented
3. Statistical
concepts and
definitions
Conditional metadata
Total employment by status in employment (thousands)
4. Comparability
(geographical
and over time)
6. Symbols or
abbreviations
5. Source data
Source: LABORSTA (laborsta.ilo.org)
Optional metadata
7. Accuracy
8. Contact
information
9. References /
relevant links
Use as a checklist
Mandatory
1. Title describing data being presented
2. Data provider
3. Statistical concepts and definitions
Conditional
4. Comparability (geographical / over time)
5. Source data
6. Symbols or abbreviations
Optional
7. Accuracy
8. Contact information
9. References / Relevant links