Abstract

Methods for communicating and enhancing public confidence in official statistics- some examples
Official statistics are produced for the public good, and it is essential that confidence and trust in these statistics remain high. In the presentation, we will discuss the concepts of public confidence and trust and how they relate to the production of official statistics. We will further explore how these concepts are connected to similar initiatives, such as professional codes of conduct, data ethics, inclusive data and evidence, and transparency.
We will elaborate on how public confidence may impact both respondents and users of official statistics, and how, in the long run, it may influence policy making and society. It is believed that high levels of public confidence can lead to increased participation rates and trust in statistical outputs.
We give examples of methods and tools that National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) use to maintain, enhance, and measure public confidence and how these methods and results are communicated. Additionally, we will reflect on how public confidence may be affected by the new survey landscape. This includes the blending of traditional and new data sources, as well as the use of AI in producing official statistics. These advancements present both opportunities and challenges for maintaining public trust. We will discuss the potential impacts and measures used by NSIs to address any concerns that may arise.