Wesley Yung and Claude Poirier 2015 World Statistics Congress CSPA from a Methodologist’s Point of View

Outline  StatCan’s involvement As a provider As a recipient  Some Observations  Points to Consider  Final Thoughts 2 7/31/2015 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada

StatCan’s Involvement: Provider  StatCan has been developing generalized systems for many years (since the mid 1990s) Some of these systems are now quite mature  StatCan has shared some of these mature systems G-Code: Automated coding BANFF: Edit and imputation CANCEIS: Edit and imputation  These are now CSPA compliant and are available as services, free of charge 3 7/31/2015 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada

StatCan’s Involvement: Provider  G-Link shared with ABS and SNZ A CSPA compliant version coming soon?  How has StatCan benefited from sharing these systems? Improved knowledge through feedback from users Larger network of contacts Additional validation of our products Identification of areas for improvement/additional functionalities Increased visibility of our products 4 7/31/2015 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada

StatCan’s Involvement: Recipient  StatCan’s requirement was confidentializing its real time remote access output  ABS’s Data Analyser (DA): An online analytical tool that ensures output is confidential  Unfortunately, the DA did not fit StatCan’s IT architecture  StatCan removed the ABS GUI and developed its own which is CSPA compliant 5 7/31/2015 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada

StatCan’s Involvement: Recipient  Three services needed to be developed Build data sets – create new variables, datasets or subsets EDA – tabular or graphical formats Statistical models – linear regression, generalized linear and multivariate models  All outputs are confidentialized using the ABS disclosure control methods Mostly perturbation based 6 7/31/2015 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada

StatCan’s Involvement: Recipient  Benefits to StatCan Even though StatCan had to wrap the DA, significant time and money were saved Three months IT development versus three years multi- disciplinary work Exposure to new methods and ways of doing things Disclosure control methods different than ABS  ABS has solid reputation, so StatCan is comfortable with the validity of methods 7 7/31/2015 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada

Some Observations  CSPA is a logical next step Many agencies (StatCan included) have been working to standardize processing systems within their organizations CSPA offers a way to standardize systems across agencies  What is the role of the proposed Methodology Architecture? Perhaps as a way to identify gaps in CSPA services? 8 7/31/2015 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada

Some Observations  CSPA will make it easier to setup processing systems but... Methodology evolves Need to ensure that work on new methods continues These new methods then need to be made into CSPA compliant services How granular these new services should be is up for debate  These CSPA compliant services can then be easily evaluated for appropriateness of use 9 7/31/2015 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada

Points to Consider  Is duplication of services a good or bad thing? BANFF (SAS) vs Editrule (R)  CSPA compliant services can be seen as pre- packaged systems Pre-packaged but not final! Need to ensure that packages don’t become stale  Where is the line between CSPA services driving or influencing sample designs? Survey methods should continue to be defined by methodologists, not the availability of tools/services 10 7/31/2015 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada

Points to Consider  Who is responsible for supporting these CSPA services? The agencies who developed them? The agencies who wrapped them? The Statistical Modernization Community? The CSPA user community?  Who decides what will be wrapped? Based on need only? What if there are competing packages? 11 7/31/2015 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada

Final Thoughts  CSPA is a good thing  But like all good things, we have to be careful what we make of it /31/2015 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada

 For more information, please contact  Pour plus d’information, veuillez contacter 13 7/31/2015 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada