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Accuracy and reliability

Contact info

Population and education, Population statistics
Asger Bromose Langgaard
+45 21 59 96 46

alg@dst.dk

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Folk high school courses

The most important source of inaccuracy is insufficient registrations by the administrations of the folk high schools. Various control procedures catches up with this as far as possible. In addition there are small differences in the material delivered by the folk high schools. We are currently working on solving this issue.

Overall accuracy

The material is based on reporting from the high schools' student administration systems (about 80 per cent) and partly on specially designed excel templates. Student management systems com-it and Danish school data are adapted in cooperation with Statistics Denmark to validate data before reporting. For the type of data where data validation can occur at source, reliability is high. For data delivered as excel sheets (about 20 per cent), the possibility of typing errors is greater and validation at source less good. In case of significant fluctuations compared to previous years, the reporting officer is contacted to check for possible errors. After possible error correction reliability is considered good. It is assessed that the missing data have little influence on the overall picture.

Sampling error

Not relevant for this statistic.

Non-sampling error

Any missing registration in the data reported by the folk high schools will lead to a shortfall in the results. Generally there are very few missing registrations. All reported courses are checked concerning the end of course date to be within the specified period. If necessary data are to be included the following year if ended after the end date specified. The classification of courses into long and short courses, can be affected by changes in course structure without any change in course content.

Quality management

Statistics Denmark follows the recommendations on organisation and management of quality given in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and the implementation guidelines given in the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF). A Working Group on Quality and a central quality assurance function have been established to continuously carry through control of products and processes.

Quality assurance

Statistics Denmark follows the principles in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and uses the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF) for the implementation of the principles. This involves continuous decentralized and central control of products and processes based on documentation following international standards. The central quality assurance function reports to the Working Group on Quality. Reports include suggestions for improvement that are assessed, decided and subsequently implemented.

Quality assessment

The reliability of the statistics is considered to be good. Error records or missing updates to the administrative registry that are the basis of the reports are the main sources of uncertainty.

Data revision - policy

Statistics Denmark revises published figures in accordance with the Revision Policy for Statistics Denmark. The common procedures and principles of the Revision Policy are for some statistics supplemented by a specific revision practice.

Data revision practice

There may be revisions, eg. in relation to redeployment in high school category. However, this option is used very rarely. A minor revision in data has been conducted in association with the publishing of the new tables.