Increasing the use of statistics

1. Increasing the use of statistics Session 1 Subregional Workshop on Dissemination and Use of Population and Housing Census Results with a Gender Focus

2. Strategy 1:Build statistical literacy“the ability to understand statistics”

3. “The future of our statistics officedepends on how widespread statistical literacy is in society.”AnuOtsCommunications Chief, Statistics Estonia

4. Where do statistics come from? Jessica Gardner

5. Tips and tricks when using statistics

6. counting is complicated

7. 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4

9. size is that a big number?

10. Absolute and relative numbers • 4,000 boys in Utopia are malnourished • 40,000 (10%); 400,000 (1%) • 50% increase in crime in Niceville (pop. 10,000) • 400 incidents  800 incidents • 4  8

11. average what does that mean?

13. Median $46,000 Average (mean) $63,000

14. Mean – sum of values / number of values • Median – the middle value • Mode – most frequently observed value

15. sampling is it representative?

17. 38 40 million in 2001, UNAIDS 2006 urban maternity clinics

18. How to judge data quality Source: OECD (www.oecd.org/dataoecd/26/38/21687665.pdf) Jessica Gardner

22. A weighted, fixed basket of goods?

29. Strategy 2:Make your statistics interesting

30. On their own, statistics are just numbers

31. What is a statistical story? • One that doesn’t just recite data in words • Catches the reader’s attention • Interesting • Informs the reader

32. Why tell a story? • Draw attention to the statistics • Get to know your own data better • Ensure correct use of statistics • Increase the use of data • Rewarding

34. “The Statistician shall … publish or otherwise disseminate such statistics or abstracts of them with or without observations thereon.“ Samoa Statistics Act 1971

35. Considerations • Accurate information • Be independent and unbiased • Inform not mislead • Guarantee confidentiality • Protect vulnerable groups

36. Encourage good writing • Way to get recognition (for the writers and for the organization) • Well written story can be used “as is” by the media thereby minimising error • Make writing a team effort

38. Identify a theme International days Year of the …. Current events Holidays Frequently asked questions A series on “The way we live now”

39. Source: http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/calendar_days_weeks_08.html

40. Source: US Census Bureau http://blogs.census.gov/

41. Writing tips • Grab your reader’s attention • Headline • First paragraph • Focus on findings not process • Use images • Simple words that people understand • Sub-headings and bulleted lists for easy scanning

42. Write like a journalist: “inverted pyramid style” Conclusions Idea Analysis Dataset Dataset Analysis Idea Conclusions

43. Prime Minister releases census results Arrival statistics now available GDP Report for September 2010

44. Population growing faster than ever Tourism on the rise Agriculture production in decline

45. Headlines • Catchy and interesting • Summarize the most important finding • No longer than one line • Use few or no numbers • The release of a report is not the headline – focus on the findings within

46. Add a descriptive title with the main message

49. Lead paragraph • Focus on one or two findings • Writing in everyday language • Create images in the minds of your reader • Use few numbers • Be brief - try to keep it within five lines • Mention assumptions, methodologies or details of how you collected the data