Evaluation of Administrative Record Quality in the U.S. Federal Statistical System

• Activity Number: 617
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Thursday, August 5, 2010 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Section on Government Statistics
• Author(s): Jenna Fulton* and Frauke Kreuter+
• Companies: Joint Program in Survey Methodology and University of Maryland
• Keywords: Administrative Records ; Federal Statistics ; Data Quality

Abstract

The Federal statistical system is expanding their use of administrative records both in lieu of and in conjunction with survey data. The interest in using this data is motivated by the reduction in data collection costs and respondent burden that administrative records offer. To date, there is little documentation on agencies' methods to evaluate and promote quality in administrative records that are used for statistical purposes. This paper will report on qualitative research conducted with the principal federal statistical agencies that documents practices in evaluating administrative record quality. It will describe how adequate quality of this data is determined, conceptual approaches considered by agencies, and the type and frequency of quality assessments they conduct. Problems and challenges they experience in assessing administrative record quality will also be documented.