Accessibility
The ease and the conditions under which statistical information can be obtained.
Accuracy
Closeness of computations or estimates to the exact or true values that the statistics were intended to measure.
Accuracy - overall
Assessment of accuracy, linked to a certain data set or domain, which is summarising the various components into one single measure.
Accuracy - nonsampling error
Error in sample estimates which cannot be attributed to sampling fluctuations.
Accuracy - sampling error
That part of the difference between a population value and an estimate thereof, derived from a random sample, which is due to the fact that only a subset of the population is enumerated.
Adjustment
The set of procedures employed to modify statistical data to enable it to conform to national or international standards or to address data quality differences when compiling specific data sets.
Adjustment - coded
Type of adjustment used, represented by a code.
Adjustment - detail
Textual description of the type of adjustment used.
Base Period
The period of time used as the base of an index number, or to which a constant price series refers.
Clarity
The extent to which easily comprehensible metadata are available, where these metadata are necessary to give a full understanding of statistical data.
Classification systems
Arrangement or division of objects into groups based on characteristics which the objects have in common.
Coherence
Adequacy of statistics to be combined in different ways and for various uses.
Coherence - cross domain
Extent to which statistics are reconcilable with those obtained through other data sources or statistical domains.
Coherence - Internal
Extent to which statistics are consistent within a given data set.
Comment
Supplementary descriptive text which can be attached to data or metadata.
Comparability
The extent to which differences between statistics can be attributed to differences between the true values of the statistical characteristics.
Comparability - between domains
Extent to which statistics are comparable between different statistical domains.
Comparability - geographical
Extent to which statistics are comparable between geographical areas.
Comparability - over time
Extent to which statistics are comparable or reconcilable over time.
Compiling agency
The organisation compiling the data being reported.
Confidentiality
A property of data indicating the extent to which their unauthorised disclosure could be prejudicial or harmful to the interest of the source or other relevant parties.
Confidentiality - data treatment
Rules applied for treating the data set to ensure statistical confidentiality and prevent unauthorised disclosure.
Confidentiality - policy
Legislative measures or other formal procedures which prevent unauthorised disclosure of data that identify a person or economic entity either directly or indirectly.
Confidentiality - status
Information about the confidentiality status of the object to which this attribute is attached.
Contact
Individual or organisational contact points for the data or metadata, including information on how to reach the contact points.
Contact email address
E-mail address of the contact points for the data or metadata.
Contact fax number
Fax number of the contact points for the data or metadata.
Contact mail address
The postal address of the contact points for the data or metadata.
Contact name
The name of the contact points for the data or metadata.
Contact organisation
The name of the organisation of the contact points for the data or metadata.
Contact organization unit
An addressable subdivision of an organization.
Contact person job title
The area of technical responsibility of the contact, such as "methodology", "database management" or "dissemination".
Contact phone number
The telephone number of the contact points for the data or metadata.
Cost and Burden
Costs associated with the collection and production of a statistical product and burden on respondents.
Cost and Burden - efficiency management
Cost benefit analysis, effectiveness of execution of medium term statistical programs, and ensuring efficient use of resources.
Cost and Burden - resources
Staff, facilities, computing resources, and financing to undertake statistical production.
Counterpart Reference Area
The secondary area, as opposed to reference area, to which the measured data is in relation.
Coverage
The definition of the population that statistics aim to cover.
Coverage - sector
Main economic or other sectors covered by the statistics.
Coverage- time
The length of time for which data are available.
Currency
Monetary denomination of the object being measured.
Data Collection Method
Systematic process of gathering data for official statistics.
Data Compilation
Operations performed on data to derive new information according to a given set of rules.
Data Dissemination Agency
The organisation disseminating the data.
Data Editing
Activity aimed at detecting and correcting errors, logical inconsistencies and suspicious data.
Data Presentation
Description of the disseminated data.
Data Presentation - data description
Main characteristics of the data set described in an easily understandable manner, referring to the data and indicators disseminated.
Data Presentation - disseminated detail
Disseminated domain, measure, and time period breakdowns of statistics in the dataset.
Data Provider
Organisation which produces data or metadata
Data Revision
Any change in a value of a statistic released to the public.
Data Revision - policy
Policy aimed at ensuring the transparency of disseminated data, whereby preliminary data are compiled that are later revised.
Data Revision - practice
Information on the data revision practice.
Data Revision - studies
Information about data revision studies and analyses.
Data Set Identifier
Sequence of characters identifying the data set with which it is associated.
Data Update
The date on which the data element was inserted or modified in the database.
Data Validation
Process of monitoring the results of data compilation and ensuring the quality of the statistical results.
Data Validation - intermediate
Validation that intermediate calculations leading to statistical outputs have been correctly done.
Data Validation - output
Assessment of discrepancies and other problems in statistical outputs.
Data Validation - source
Assessment of discrepancies and other problems related to source data.
Decimals
The number of digits of an observation to the right of a decimal point.
Dissemination Format
Media by which statistical data and metadata are disseminated.
Dissemination Format - mirco-data access
Information on whether micro-data are also disseminated.
Dissemination Format - news release
Regular or ad-hoc press releases linked to the data.
Dissemination Format - online database
Information about on-line databases in which the disseminated data can be accessed.
Dissemination Format - other
References to the most important other data dissemination done.
Dissemination Format - publications
Regular or ad-hoc publications in which the data are made available to the public.
Documentation on methodology
Descriptive text and references to methodological documents available.
Documentation on methodology - advance notice
Policy on notifying the public of changes in methodology, indicating whether the public is notified before a methodological change affects disseminated data and, if so, how long before.
Embargo Time
The exact time at which the data could be made available to the public.
Frequency Detail
A further specification of the frequency to include more detailed information about the type of frequency and frequencies not commonly used.
Frequency of data collection
Frequency with which the source data are collected.
Frequency of dissemination
The time interval at which the statistics are disseminated over a given time period.
Grossing/Netting
Form of consolidation used in presenting the data.
Index Type
The type of index number used in the statistical production process.
Institutional Mandate
Set of rules or other formal set of instructions assigning responsibility as well as the authority to an organisation for the collection, processing, and dissemination of statistics.
Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Arrangements or procedures for data sharing and coordination between data producing agencies.
Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements.
Legal acts or other formal or informal agreements that assign responsibility as well as the authority to an agency for the collection, processing, and dissemination of statistics.
Institutional Mandate - respondent relations.
Measures to encourage statistical reporting and/or to sanction non-reporting.
Maintenance Agency
The organisation or other expert body that maintains a domain-specific data or metadata structure definition.
Metadata Update
The date on which the metadata element was inserted or modified in the database.
Metadata Update - last certified
Date of the latest certification provided by the domain manager to confirm that the metadata posted are still up-to-date, even if the content has not been amended.
Metadata Update - last posted
Date of the latest dissemination of the metadata.
Metadata Update - last update
Date of last update of the content of the metadata.
Observation Pre-break Value
The observation, at a time series break period, that was calculated using the old methodology.
Observation Status
Information on the quality of a value or an unusual or missing value.
Original Data Identifier
The data identifier as found in the originating database.
Professionalism
The standard, skill and ability suitable for producing statistics of good quality.
Professionalism - code of conduct
Provision for assuring the qualifications of staff and allowing staff to perform their functions without intervention motivated by non-statistical objectives.
Professionalism - impartiality
Description of the elements providing assurances that statistics are produced on an impartial basis.
Professionalism - methodology
Describes the elements providing assurances that the choices of sources and statistical techniques as well as decisions about dissemination are informed solely by statistical considerations.
Professionalism - statistical commentary
Describes the elements providing assurances that the statistical entity is entitled to comment on erroneous interpretation and misuse of statistics.
Punctuality
Time lag between the actual delivery of the data and the target date when it should have been delivered.
Quality Management
Systems and frameworks in place within an organisation to manage the quality of statistical products and processes.
Quality Management - assessment
Overall assessment of data quality, based on standard quality criteria.
Quality Management - assurance
Guidelines focusing on quality in general and dealing with quality of statistical programmes, including measures for ensuring the efficient use of resources.
Quality Management - documentation
Documentation on procedures applied for quality management and quality assessment.
Recording Basis
Processes and standards employed in calculating statistical aggregates.
Reference Period - weights
Dates or periods to which the observations used to compile the weights refer.
Release Policy
Rules for disseminating statistical data to interested parties.
Release Policy - legal acts and other agreements
Legal acts and other agreements pertaining to data access.
Release Policy - policy commentary
Release Policy - release calendar
The schedule of statistical release dates.
Release Policy - release calendar access
Access to the release calendar information.
Release Policy - transparency
Dissemination of the release policy to the public.
Release Policy - user access
The policy for release of the data to users, the scope of dissemination (eg, to the public, to selected users), how users are informed that the data are being released, and whether the policy provides determines the dissemination of statistical data to all users.
Relevance
The degree to which statistical information meets the real or perceived needs of clients.
Relevance - Completeness
The extent to which all statistics that are needed are available.
Relevance - user needs
Description of users and their respective needs with respect to the statistical data.
Relevance - user satisifaction
Measure to determine user satisfaction.
Reporting Agency
The organisation that supplies the data for a given instance of the statistics.
Sampling
The process of selecting a number of cases from all the cases in a particular group or universe.
Source Data
Characteristics and components of the raw statistical data used for compiling statistical aggregates.
Statistical Concepts and Definitions
Statistical characteristics of statistical observations.
Statistical Population
The total membership or population or "universe" of a defined class of people, objects or events.
Statistical Unit
Entity for which information is sought and for which statistics are ultimately compiled.
Time Format
Technical format in which time is represented for the measured phenomenon.
Time Period - collection
Dates or periods during which the observations have been collected (such as middle, average or end of period) to compile the indicator for the target reference period.
Timelinesst
Length of time between data availability and the event or phenomenon they describe.
Timeliness - output
The lapse of time between the end of a reference period and dissemination of the data.
Timeliness - source data
The time between the end of a reference period and actual receipt of the data by the compiling agency.
Title
Textual label used as identification of a statistical object.
Unit Multiplier
Exponent in base 10 specified so that multiplying the observation numeric values by 10^UNIT_MULT gives a value expressed in the UNIT.
Unit of Measure
The unit in which the data values are measured.
Unit of Measure Detail
Additional textual information on the unit of measure.
Valuation
The definition of the price per unit, for goods and services flows and asset stocks.