1 Role of Metadata

Role of Metadata in Data Dissemination

Presented at the UN Regional Seminar on Census Data

Dissemination and Spatial Analysis

Motale PhirwaStatistics South Africa17th September 2010

Nairobi, Kenya

2 Role of Metadata

What is metadata?

• Data about data.

• Information that enhances the understanding of data.

3 Role of Metadata

Categories of Metadata for Surveys

• Survey Metadata•Concepts and definitions including the way the question is asked in the survey •Classifications (code lists)•Operational metadata including methodology •Data editing instruction

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Categories of metadata for Surveys

• Survey Instance Metadata – information about a particular occurrence of a survey

•Response rates•Imputations rules and results•Any deviations from the survey norm

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Metadata Development @ Statistics South Africa

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Electronic Data - Unit records on CD

• All unit records of sample household surveys. 10% sample of population census unit record. All unit records are confidentialised.

• Who should use this?Researchers and value-add service providers

• What is available?Quarterly labour force survey, General household survey.

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Electronic Data – Time Series

• Time series data in ASCII, Excel and PX-web that can be downloaded. PX-web allows a user to subset the data.

• Who should use this?The general public

• What is available?Building statistics, Civil cases for debt, Consumer Price Index, Electricity generated and available for distribution, Gross Domestic Product, Food and Beverages, Land Transport survey, Liquidations and insolvencies, Manufacturing Production and Sales, Mining Production and Sales, Motor trade sales, Production Price Index, Retail trade sales, Tourism and migration, Tourist Accommodation, Utilisation of production capacity, Wholesale trade sales, mid year Population Estimates

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Electronic Data -Superweb

• The web-based version of SuperCross for users to tabulate and download tables, charts and maps.

•  Who should use this?The more advanced user looking for more detail

• What is available?Census 2001, Community Profiles, Community Survey 2007: Community Profiles, Income and Expenditure of Households 2005/2006

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Electronic Data - Unit Records on CD

• View QLFS

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Databases in Nesstar

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description

# of records

graph

variable name

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Critical Success Factors for Metadata

• Appropriate documentation from all involved in the survey value chain

• Skills to do data preparation– Information technology– Data management– Statisticians

• Good telecommunication infrastructure– Mid to high end stand alone desk/laptop– Web servers– Bandwidth

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Benefits of Metadata

• Reduced burden on resources of the NSO in responding to user enquiries– promote user self service resulting in increased use of data. – Statistician can focus on other work

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Thank you