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ISTAT Information system on quality of statistical production processes SIQual
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1)What is meant by quality?

2)Which metadata are in SIQual?

3)Why SIQual is focused on statistical production processes?

4)What does the multidimensional research permit?

5)Where does the information available in the system come from?

6)What is a thesaurus?

7)Can I find in SIQual the data produced by Istat surveys and secondary studies?

8)What is the metadata?



Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is meant by quality?
Quality is a wide concept that has changed its meaning over time. In the past, in statistical terms quality was synonymous to accuracy. Over time, this concept widened its meaning up to include issues on total quality. One of the most used definitions in official statistics is the ISO 8402 (1986) stating that "Quality is the totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs".
2) Which metadata are in SIQual?
SIQual contains information on the execution of Istat production processes (surveys and secondary studies) and on the activities carried out to warrantee the quality of statistical information produced.
3) Why SIQual is focused on statistical production processes?
Istat activities consist on the production of official statistical information and is ruled by the National Statistical Plan. All the surveys and secondary studies of public interest are listed in it. In SIQual surveys and secondary studies are generally referred as statistical production process.
4) What does the multidimensional research permit?
The "Multidimensional research" is a SIQual function allowing the user to obtain simple or joint distributions of Istat processes. For example, it is possible to have the survey distribution by data collection mode, or to cross such a characteristic with the survey periodicity. This function is a data warehouse on the metadata documented in the system.
5) Where does the information available in the system come from?
Since many years, Istat has implemented a survey documentation information system, named SIDI, where all the metadata of the statistical production processes (surveys and secondary studies) are stored in a standard way. SIDI represents the data base from where SIQual information is drawn.
6) What is a thesaurus?
To ensure content standardisation and validity, the documentation system is based on lists of standard items, called Thesauri. For example, to document that data collection mode is a telephone interview, this can be exclusively done using the appropriate item in the thesaurus.
7) Can I find in SIQual the data produced by Istat surveys and secondary studies?
SIQual is not a system devoted to navigate through the data, but is devoted to the navigation of the metadata describing the production processes and their characteristics. Nevertheless, if the statistical production process disseminates data in on-line Databanks, these users navigating SIQual can access these databanks. This function will be further improved in the future.
8) What is the metadata?
Metadata is data and other documentation describing objects (data) in a formalised way (UNECE). For example, a piece of metadata can represent the sample design of a survey or the operations of a secondary study.