Date:         Wed, 4 Oct 2006 10:43:41 -0400
Reply-To:     charles.harbour@PEARSON.COM
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         charles.harbour@PEARSON.COM
Subject:      Re: FW: New Guidance on OMB's statistical survey standards

Thanks for posting this, Ron.  When I was at Dept. of Ed. in the mid 90's,
this was a real problem--even within the same periodic survey.  I made some
suggestions at the time, but I didn't think anything would come of it.  I
gave some very fundamental data validation/cleansing code to census, and it
took them almost 10 years to implement it.

So maybe I shouldn't give up hope on improving the system--just adjust my
expectations to a more casual pace...

CH

On Thu, 28 Sep 2006 17:05:05 -0400, Fehd, Ronald J. (CDC/CCHIS/NCPHI)
<rjf2@CDC.GOV> wrote:

>> EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
>> OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
>> WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503
>
>> September 22, 2006
>
>> Contact: OMB Communications, (202) 395-7254
>> Government Issues New Standards and Guidelines
>> for Statistical Surveys to Reflect Current Best Practices
>
>> Washington- Today, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
>> released new standards and guidelines for statistical surveys
>> sponsored by Federal agencies.
>> The new guidance provides government-wide uniformity
>> in statistical methods and practices
>> to ensure the reliability and utility of data produced
>> and updates the standards to bring them in line
>> with current professional practice.
>
>> The new guidance provides twenty statistical standards
>> on survey design,production of estimates,
>> survey review procedures,
>> as well as data collection, processing, analysis,
>> and dissemination.
>> One of the most significant areas covered
>> in the new standards and guidelines
>> concerns sources of bias in surveys,
>> particularly potential bias due to declining response rates.
>> This guidance offers best practices for agencies
>> to assess and evaluate potential bias in their surveys.
>
>> In releasing the new standards and guidelines,
>> OMB Deputy Director for Management Clay Johnson said,
>> "Data gathered and distributed by the Federal government
>> affect people's lives and well-being.
>> It is essential that the collection process
>> guarantees the information is sound
>> and reliable to ensure that taxpayer dollars
>> are used to efficiently obtain high quality information."
>
>> The revised standards and guidelines
>> were developed through an extensive interagency process
>> over a multi-year period.
>> The process included review by dozens of experts
>> across Federal agencies, survey methodology practitioners,
>> and the public.
>
>> To view the standards, visit:
>> http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/statpolicy.html