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The Role of Metadata in Census Data Dissemination

This presentation explores the importance of metadata in census data dissemination, including its types and standards. It highlights the benefits of metadata in assisting data retrieval, supporting correct usage, providing transparency, enhancing interoperability, and improving archiving and preservation.

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The Role of Metadata in Census Data Dissemination

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  1. The Role of Metadata in Census Data Dissemination United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis Amman, Jordan 16-19 May 2011

  2. Outline • What is metadata? • What does metadata do? • Types of metadata • Metadata in census data dissemination • Metadata standards: current situation • Conclusion

  3. What is metadata? • It is structured information or documentation about data which: • informs users about the content, quality and condition of data; • describes the structure of datasets, explains, locates, or makes it easier to retrieve, use, or manage data; • provides information on the processes of data production; • guides on proper usage or interpretation of data. • “Data that define and describe other data” (ISO definition) • “Information about information” (Dion, 2006)

  4. What does metadata do? • Assist in retrieving and processing data • Support correct use of data • Provide transparency in data • Enhance interoperability • Improve archiving, preservation, institutional memory over time

  5. Types of metadata • Structural metadata • provide information about the structure of the dataset • act as identifiers and descriptors of the data, making it possible to properly identify, retrieve and browse the data • Reference metadata • allow a thorough understanding and interpretation of the corresponding statistical data • Describe the concepts, definitions, methodology and quality of data; production and dissemination process, data access conditions, release policy, confidentiality, etc

  6. Metadata in Census Data Dissemination All tabulations of census data should include: • Census questions • Reason why the questions are asked • Conceptual definitions • Geographic hierarchies used • Changes since the previous census, regarding content, operational methods or geographic boundaries • Quality indicators (ex. coverage rates and item non-response) • Methodological note on the rules and methods applied If a long-form sample is used... • Sampling design, size, sampling variability of the results (P&R, 2008)

  7. Metadata standards: current situation • Currently, data dissemination and exchange take place in ad-hoc manner, using all kinds of non-standard format. Common standards and guidelines are needed to enable more efficient exchange of statistical data. • Standard metadata system will: • ensures consistency and comparability of content • avoids duplication and diversity of definitions • ensures reduction in cost of data development

  8. Metadata standards (cont’d) Two international metadata standards are becoming well established: - SDMX (Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange) a number of international agencies have endorsed SDMX; supported by the UN Statistical Commission -DDI (Data Dissemination Initiative) Microdata Management Toolkit of WB uses the DDI metadata standard

  9. Conclusion • Metadata are at the heart of the information management. • They should be an integral part of statistical dissemination strategies. • Standards for metadata management are important to develop. • Regional and international collaboration between NSOs is an important consideration

  10. Thank you !

  11. Users of metadata Metadata support the knowledge of potential user of statistical information. The major users include: • Users of statistical data • Producers of statistical data • Researchers on the development of statistical systems

  12. Points for discussion - What are the success factors of metadata? Strategies? Infrastrucure? Resources? - How to ensure the security of metadata? - How “open” or “transparent” the metadata can be? - How to improve standerdization of metadata?

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