Compare Page

Statistical validity

Characteristic Name: Statistical validity
Dimension: Validity
Description: Computed data must be statistically valid
Granularity: Information object
Implementation Type: Process-based approach
Characteristic Type: Usage

Verification Metric:

The number of tasks failed or under performed due to lack of statistical validity in data
The number of complaints received due to lack of statistical validity of data

GuidelinesExamplesDefinitons

The implementation guidelines are guidelines to follow in regard to the characteristic. The scenarios are examples of the implementation

Guidelines: Scenario:
Establish the population of interest unambiguously with appropriate justification (maintain documentation) (1) Both credit customers and cash customers are considered for a survey on customer satisfaction.
Establish an appropriate sampling method with appropriate justification (1) Stratified sampling is used to investigate drug preference of the medical officers
Establish statistical validity of samples -avoid over coverage and under coverage (maintain documentation) (1) Samples are taken from all income levels in a survey on vaccination
Maintain consistency of samples in case longitudinal analysis is performed. (Maintain documentation) (1) Same population is used over the time to collect epidemic data for a longitudinal analysis
Ensure that valid statistical methods are used to enable valid inferences about data, valid comparisons of parameters and generalise the findings. (1) Poisson distribution is used to make inferences since data generating events are occurred in a fixed interval of time and/or space
Ensure that the acceptable variations for estimated parameters are established with appropriate justifications (1) 95% confidence interval is used in estimating the mean value
Ensure that appropriate imputation measures are taken to nullify the impact of problems relating to outliers, data collection and data collection procedures and the edit rules are defined and maintained. (1) Incomplete responses are removed from the final data sample

Validation Metric:

How mature is the process to maintain statistical validity of data

These are examples of how the characteristic might occur in a database.

Example: Source:
if a column should contain at least one occurrence of all 50 states, but the column contains only 43 states, then the population is incomplete. Y. Lee, et al., “Journey to Data Quality”, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2006.

The Definitions are examples of the characteristic that appear in the sources provided.

Definition: Source:
Coherence of data refers to the internal consistency of the data. Coherence can be evaluated by determining if there is coherence between different data items for the same point in time, coherence between the same data items for different points in time or coherence between organisations or internationally. Coherence is promoted through the use of standard data concepts, classifications and target populations. HIQA 2011. International Review of Data Quality Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), Ireland. http://www.hiqa.ie/press-release/2011-04-28-international-review-data-quality.
1) Accuracy in the general statistical sense denotes the closeness of computations or estimates to the exact or true values.

2) Coherence of statistics is their adequacy to be reliably combined in different ways and for various uses.

LYON, M. 2008. Assessing Data Quality ,
Monetary and Financial Statistics.
Bank of England. http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/
statistics/Documents/ms/articles/art1mar08.pdf.

 

Data awareness

Characteristic Name: Data awareness
Dimension: Availability and Accessability
Description: Data users should be aware of all available data and its location
Granularity: Information object
Implementation Type: Process-based approach
Characteristic Type: Usage

Verification Metric:

The number of tasks failed or under performed due to lack of data awareness
The number of complaints received due to lack of continuity in data awareness

GuidelinesExamplesDefinitons

The implementation guidelines are guidelines to follow in regard to the characteristic. The scenarios are examples of the implementation

Guidelines: Scenario:
Educate users on the data landscape of the organisation and how to access the information when needed. (1) Training programs are conducted to educate on using the systems and retrieve data when necessary.
Provide appropriate searching tools, manuals to find the required information. (1) Data catalogs (2)Data Searching facility provided in application programs
Educate users on how data is collected and what are the procedures used in data collection so that they can decide on the appropriateness of the data for use. (1) Opinion pole data during festival season is not appropriate to analyse drinking habits.

Validation Metric:

How mature is the process of creating the awareness of data

These are examples of how the characteristic might occur in a database.

Example: Source:
For example, the best and easiest method to obtain demographic information may be to obtain it from an existing system. Another method may be to assign data collection by the expertise of each team member. For example, the admission staff collects demographic data, the nursing staff collects symptoms, and the HIM staff assigns codes. Team members should be assigned accordingly. B. Cassidy, et al., “Practice Brief: Data Quality Management Model” in Journal of AHIMA, 1998, 69(6).

The Definitions are examples of the characteristic that appear in the sources provided.

Definition: Source:
Accessibility of data refers to how easily it can be accessed; the awareness of data users of what data is being collected and knowing where it is located. HIQA 2011. International Review of Data Quality Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), Ireland. http://www.hiqa.ie/press-release/2011-04-28-international-review-data-quality.