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Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency: Fourth Edition (2009)

Chapter: Appendix E: Prefaces to the First, Second, and Third Editions

« Previous: Appendix D: Selected Federal Statistical Websites, January 2009
Suggested Citation:"Appendix E: Prefaces to the First, Second, and Third Editions." National Research Council. 2009. Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency: Fourth Edition. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12564.
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Page 118
Suggested Citation:"Appendix E: Prefaces to the First, Second, and Third Editions." National Research Council. 2009. Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency: Fourth Edition. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12564.
×
Page 119
Suggested Citation:"Appendix E: Prefaces to the First, Second, and Third Editions." National Research Council. 2009. Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency: Fourth Edition. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12564.
×
Page 120
Suggested Citation:"Appendix E: Prefaces to the First, Second, and Third Editions." National Research Council. 2009. Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency: Fourth Edition. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12564.
×
Page 121
Suggested Citation:"Appendix E: Prefaces to the First, Second, and Third Editions." National Research Council. 2009. Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency: Fourth Edition. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12564.
×
Page 122

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Appendix E Prefaces to the First, Second, and Third Editions FIRST EDITION From time to time the Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) is asked for advice on what constitutes an effective federal statistical agency. For example, congressional staff raised the question as they were formulat- ing legislation for a Bureau of Environmental Statistics, and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation asked CNSTAT for advice on establishing a new Bureau of Transportation Statistics, called for in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. The National Research Council’s Transportation Research Board had earlier turned to CNSTAT for information on common elements of the organization and responsibilities of federal statistical agencies for its study on strategic trans- portation data needs. Of interest in all of these requests are the fundamental characteristics that define a statistical agency and its operation. Statistical agencies sometimes face situations that tax acceptable stan- dards for professional behavior. Examples occur when policy makers, regula- tors, or enforcement officials seek access to data on individual respondents from a statistics agency or when policy interpretations are added to press releases announcing statistical data. Because the federal statistical system is highly decentralized, statistical agencies must operate under the policies and guidance of officials in many departments of government. Not all of these officials are knowledgeable about what is generally accepted as proper for a 118

APPENDIX E 119 federal statistical agency, and issues involving judgments about conflicting objectives also arise. In response to these situations, CNSTAT has prepared this “white pa- per” on principles and practices for a federal statistical agency. This paper brings together conclusions and recommendations made in many CNSTAT reports on specific agencies, programs, and topics, and it includes a discus- sion of what is meant by independence of a federal statistical agency and of the roles of research and analysis in a statistical agency. The commentary section contains supplementary information to further explain or illustrate the principles and practices. In preparing this paper, CNSTAT and its staff solicited suggestions from many involved with federal statistical agencies. A draft of the paper was discussed by the heads of some federal statistical agencies at an open meeting of CNSTAT, and a draft was also discussed at a meeting of the Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics. The committee is grateful for the many suggestions and comments it received. When the report is published, CNSTAT plans to seek an even wider discussion of it at meetings of professional societies and to encourage reviews and com- mentaries. We hope that, in this way, the paper may evolve further and possibly influence legislation, regulations, and standards affecting federal statistical agencies. As we were completing our work on this report, the Conference of European Statisticians drafted a resolution on the fundamental principles of official statistics in the region of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE). Although the two documents were done independently, there is a large amount of agreement between them. We note particularly the em- phasis the ECE resolution places on the need for independence for official statistics agencies (United Nations Statistical Commission and Economic Commission for Europe, 1991). Although focused on federal statistical agencies, many of the principles and practices presented here also apply to statistical activities elsewhere, par- ticularly to those in state and local government agencies and other statistical organizations. In addition, this paper and the ECE resolution may be useful to emerging democracies that seek to establish statistical organizations in their governments. The principles and practices articulated here are statements of best practice rather than legal or scientific rules. They are based on experience rather than law or experiment. Some of them may need to be changed as

120 principles and practices for a federal statistical agency laws change, society changes, or the practice of statistics changes. They are thus intended as guidelines, not prescriptions. Burton H. Singer, Chair Committee on National Statistics, 1992 NOTE: The ECE resolution was subsequently adopted by the Statistical Commission of the United Nations (U.N. Statistical Commission, 1994); see Appendix C. SECOND EDITION In 1992 the Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) issued a white paper on principles and practices for a federal statistical agency. The paper responded to requests from Congress and others for advice on what constitutes an effective statistical agency. It identified and commented on three basic principles: relevance to policy issues, credibility among data users, and trust among data providers. It also discussed 11 important practices, including a strong measure of independence and commitment to quality and professional practice (National Research Council, 1992). The CNSTAT report has been used by federal statistical agencies to in- form department officials, advisory committees, and others. It has also been used in a congressionally mandated study by the U.S. General Accounting Office (1995) to evaluate the performance of major statistical agencies and in a review of the federal statistical system by a former commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (Norwood, 1995). Its principles informed the establishment and later assessment of a new statistical agency, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (see National Research Council, 1997b). Eight years have passed since the white paper was first issued, and the committee decided that it would be useful to release a revised and updated version at this time. This second edition does not change the basic principles for federal statistical agencies, because the committee believes these prin- ciples are and will continue to be important guides for effective practice. The second edition does revise and expand the discussion of some of the practices that characterize an effective federal statistical agency and brings the discussion up to date with references to recent reports by the commit- tee and others. Driving the revisions is our recognition of the need for statistical agencies to keep up to date and to meet the challenges for their missions

APPENDIX E 121 that are posed by such technological, social, and economic changes as the widespread use of the Internet for the dissemination and, increasingly, the collection of data, the heightened concern about safeguards for confidential information, and the information requirements of a changing economy. New and revised text addresses the reasons for establishing a federal statisti- cal agency, the necessity for and characteristics of independence of a federal statistical agency, the need for continual development of more useful data, for example, by integrating data from multiple sources, practices for fair treatment of data providers, the role of the Internet in the release of data, and the need for effective coordination and cooperation among statistical agencies to ensure that policy makers and citizens receive data that are ac- curate, relevant, and timely for their needs. We stress that the principles and practices for a federal statistical agency articulated here are guidelines, not prescriptions. We intend them to be helpful not only to the agencies, from whose experience we benefited in preparing this revised edition, but also to inform others of the characteristics of effective statistical agencies that can serve policy makers in the executive and legislative branches, other data users, and the public well. John E. Rolph, Chair Committee on National Statistics, 2001 THIRD EDITION The Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) last revised its white paper on principles and practices for a federal statistical agency in 2001. First issued in 1992 on the committee’s 20th anniversary, the white paper presents and comments on three basic principles for statistical agencies to carry out their mission effectively: relevance to policy issues, credibility among data users, and trust among data providers. The paper also discusses 11 important practices, including a strong measure of independence, a commitment to quality and professional practice, and an active program of methodological and substantive research. The CNSTAT report has been widely cited and used by Congress and federal agencies. It has shaped legislation and executive actions to establish and evaluate statistical agencies, and agencies have used it to inform newly appointed department officials, advisory committees, and others about what constitutes an effective and credible statistical organization. This third edition retains the outline and content of the second edition.

122 principles and practices for a federal statistical agency The changes and additions reflect new circumstances, such as new forms of threats to data confidentiality and individual privacy. This third edition also adds an appendix that documents legislation and regulations adopted since 2001 that importantly affect the operation of federal statistical agencies. The principles and practices for a federal statistical agency articulated here remain guidelines, not prescriptions. We intend them to assist statisti- cal agencies and to inform policy makers, data users, and others about the characteristics of statistical agencies that enable them to serve the public good. William F. Eddy, Chair Committee on National Statistics, 2005

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Since 1992, the Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) has produced a book on principles and practices for a federal statistical agency, updating the document every 4 years to provide a current edition to newly appointed cabinet secretaries at the beginning of each presidential administration.

This fourth edition presents and comments on four basic principles that statistical agencies must embody in order to carry out their mission fully:

(1) They must produce objective data that are relevant to policy issues,

(2) they must achieve and maintain credibility among data users,

(3) they must achieve and maintain trust among data providers, and

(4) they must achieve and maintain a strong position of independence from the appearance and reality of political control.

The book also discusses 11 important practices that are means for statistical agencies to live up to the four principles. These practices include a commitment to quality and professional practice and an active program of methodological and substantive research. This fourth edition adds the principle that statistical agencies must operate from a strong position of independence and the practice that agencies must have ongoing internal and external evaluations of their programs.

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