Data dissemination in the 21st century: Meeting the challenge of wider public reporting Seminar

Abstract
Statistical information describing the state or change in the state of the nation plays an extremely important role in the way decisions and policy shape our social and economic world. Increasing calls for more transparency and better access to statistical information in order to facilitate better public engagement poses a significant challenge for National Statistical Institutes. While the internet offers an important gateway for wider public reporting, the dissemination of even basic statistical information is not a trivial task when the audience has little or no formal statistical training. Here, we look at some of the reasons why non-statisticians may interpret information encoded in a visual interface such as a graph or map in a way the designer may not have intended. We also show some of the ways the ONS is meeting this challenge.