Government statistics are widely used to inform decisions by policymakers, program administrators, businesses and other organizations as well as households and the general public. Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency, Seventh Edition will assist statistical agencies and units, as well as other agencies engaged in statistical activities, to carry out their responsibilities to provide accurate, timely, relevant, and objective information for public and policy use. This report will also inform legislative and executive branch decision makers, data users, and others about the characteristics of statistical agencies that enable them to serve the public good.

Contents

• The National Academies of SCIENCES • ENGINEERING • MEDICINE
• COMMITTEE ON THE 7TH EDITION OF PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES FOR A STATISTICAL AGENCY
• COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL STATISTICS
• DEDICATION
• PREFACE
• SUMMARY
  • FIVE PRINCIPLES
  • TEN PRACTICES
• PART I. Introduction
  • THE VALUE OF NATIONAL STATISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES
    • How Statistical Information Powers Government and Policy Making
    • The Costs and Benefits of Federal Statistics
  • FEDERAL STATISTICAL AGENCIES AND UNITS
  • THE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL STATISTICS AND THIS REPORT
• PART II. Principles
  • PRINCIPLE 1. Relevance to Policy Issues and Society
  • PRINCIPLE 2. Credibility Among Data Users and Stakeholders
  • PRINCIPLE 3. Trust Among the Public and Data Providers
  • PRINCIPLE 4. Independence from Political and Other Undue External Influence
  • PRINCIPLE 5. Continual Improvement and Innovation
• PART III. Practices
  • Practice 1. A Clearly Defined and Well-Accepted Mission
  • Practice 2. Necessary Authority and Procedures to Protect Independence
  • Practice 3. Commitment to Quality and Professional Standards of Practice
  • Practice 4. Professional Advancement of Staff
  • Practice 5. An Active Research Program
    • Substantive Research and Analysis
    • Research on Methodology and Operations
    • Expanding the Statistical Use of Administrative Records
    • Evaluating and Using Alternative Data Sources
    • Value of an Active Research Program
  • Practice 6. Strong Internal and External Evaluation Processes for an Agency’s Statistical Programs
    • Evaluating Quality, Relevance, Efficiency
    • Types of Reviews
  • Practice 7. Coordination and Collaboration with Other Statistical Agencies
    • Coordinating Role of the Office of Management and Budget
    • Forms of Interagency Collaboration
    • International Collaborations
    • Challenges and Rewards for Collaboration
  • Practice 8. Respect for Data Providers and Protection of Their Data
    • Respecting Privacy in Surveys
    • Protecting and Respecting the Autonomy of Human Research Participants
    • Respecting the Providers of Administrative and Other Data
    • Protecting the Confidentiality of Data Providers’ Information
  • Practice 9. Dissemination of Statistical Products That Meet Users’ Needs
    • Public Statistical Data Products
    • Restricted-Access Statistical Products
  • Practice 10. Openness About Sources and Limitations of the Data Provided
• REFERENCES
• APPENDIX A. Legislation and Regulations That Govern Federal Statistics
• APPENDIX B. Organization of the Federal Statistical System
• APPENDIX C. Some International Frameworks and Guidance Relevant for Federal Statistics
• COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL STATISTICS

Suggested citation:

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2021). Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency, Seventh Edition. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25885.

Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.17226/25885

Additional copies of this publication are available from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Keck 360, Washington, DC 20001; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313; http://www.nap.edu.

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