ILO experience with gathering and disseminating meta-data on household income and expenditure statistics Bob Pember, ILO Bureau of Statistics, Geneva

ILO Bureau of Statistics: Work session on statistical metadata, 9-11 Feb In 2003 ILO developed new system for gathering and disseminating metadata How did we do it before? Problems with this method Summary of latest method –Resources –Experience gained

ILO Bureau of Statistics: Work session on statistical metadata, 9-11 Feb How did we do it before? Method 1: –Questionnaire with open response (in English, French, Spanish) or –Extract metadata from national publications, other documents –Then manual preparation of description, and translate into other two languages Method 2 –Referring previous descriptions back to countries for updating, then translate revision into other two languages

ILO Bureau of Statistics: Work session on statistical metadata, 9-11 Feb Problems with previous method Countries would not always sure of the level of detail to provide, requiring follow-up Extensive effort to prepare standardised description of metadata Extensive translation of result (about $50,000 each publication)

ILO Bureau of Statistics: Work session on statistical metadata, 9-11 Feb Summary of latest method Questionnaire with tick boxes offering choice of answers (plus “Other, specify”) Tested and revised Translated into French and Spanish Computer programmes developed to: –Enter data a set of databases –Edit the input –Produce analyses of database (cross-tabulations) –Produce HTML output in three languages in standard format See questionnaire and extract from computer specifications of HTML output

ILO Bureau of Statistics: Work session on statistical metadata, 9-11 Feb Resources required ItemPreviouslyNow Designc. $3,000c. $10,000 Translationc. $50,000c. $10,000 Preparation of descriptions c. $ 50,000+Nil (incl in design) descriptions c. $ 50,000+Nil (incl in design) Computer work c. $2,000c. $15,000 Data entry c. $2000c. $9,000 TOTALover $100,000about $45,000

ILO Bureau of Statistics: Work session on statistical metadata, 9-11 Feb Other advantages of new system Is believed to reduce reporting burden for countries –Tick boxes are faster and easier to complete –Gives guidance on the detail required in the response) Provides a database that can be analysed and cross- tabulated (not previously available) Computer development is re-useable to some extent –has already been adapted for a metadata system on –has already been adapted for a metadata system on statistics on the employment situation of persons with disabilities

ILO Bureau of Statistics: Work session on statistical metadata, 9-11 Feb Disadvantages of new system Requires more care in questionnaire design and extensive knowledge of possible alternatives Requires more computer input

ILO Bureau of Statistics: Work session on statistical metadata, 9-11 Feb Experience gained In practice, countries added unexpected comments to the tick box responses and these had to be accommodated Such additions can be provided for in future systems design, but had not been expected on this occasion By oversight, codes were not printed alongside each tick box and this slowed data entry

ILO Bureau of Statistics: Work session on statistical metadata, 9-11 Feb Conclusion Would we do it again? Yes, as already mentioned the system has been adapted for a metadata system on Yes, as already mentioned the system has been adapted for a metadata system on statistics on the employment situation of persons with disabilities