1. Measuring trust in official statistics Findings from BSA 2016
Ian Simpson
September 2017

2. Who are NatCen
Founded in 1969, Britain’s largest independent social research agency
Not-for-profit
Variety of clients and funders
Range of types of research – we do qual and quant, evaluations, secondary analysis etc. One particular strength is our attitudinal research.

3. Overview of BSA Measures social, political and moral values
Annual cross-sectional survey
Random probability sample
CAPI interview and self-completion
Range of funding sources
Varied topics

4. Measuring trust in statistics - surveys
United Kingdom Statistical Authority commissioned NatCen to run OECD Model questionnaire for measuring public trust in official statistics on BSA 2014
Survey was repeated on BSA 2016

5. Survey covered Awareness of official statistics
Trust in official statistics
Use of official statistics

6. Findings: awareness of ONS
71% of the public are aware of the
Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Remains at the level recorded in 2014

7. Findings: trust in ONS (1)

8. Findings: trust in ONS (2)

9. Findings: accuracy of official figures
There has been a modest increase in agreement that official figures are generally accurate
Of those able to give an opinion, 78% agree that official figures are accurate, compared with 73% in 2014

10. Findings: presentation of official figures by government & media
No improvement to the low numbers of people who think that Government and newspapers present official figures honestly
Of those able to give an opinion, 26% agree that Government presents official figures honestly
Of those able to give an opinion, 18% agree that newspapers present official figures honestly

11. Findings: variation in views of different types of statistics
In 2016, of those able to give an opinion, 87% agree that the Census accurately reflects changes in the UK, while 71% think this is the case for crime statistics

12. Findings: Trust in ONS by level of education
In terms of variations in general attitudes to ONS statistics by socio-economic class and education, in general those with higher levels of qualifications and in managerial and professional occupations are more positive than those with lower qualifications or in routine and semi-routine occupations

13. Conclusions
Relatively high level of awareness of ONS and official statistics
High and stable level of public trust in how official statistics in UK are produced (some statistics more trusted than others)
Low level of public trust in how statistics are used by the government and media

14. Contact Ian Simpson Senior Researcher T. 020 7549 7036E.
Visit us online: BSA.natcen.ac.uk