This Background Quality Report (BQR) provides information on the quality of the data used to produce the Transport Accessibility Statistics Northern Ireland report (the report).
It informs users about the quality of the information upon which they may be drawing conclusions and making decisions.
The BQR is structured around the five quality dimensions for statistical outputs (from the European Statistics Code of Practice). The UK Statistics Authority’s Code of Practice for Statistics requires that:
Q3.3 The quality of the statistics and data, including their accuracy and reliability, coherence and comparability, and timeliness and punctuality, should be monitored and reported regularly.
Introduction
Context for the BQR.
Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch (ASRB), a Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) branch within the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) is responsible for the compilation and publication of the Transport Accessibility Statistics Northern Ireland report.
This is a compendium report and the official / accredited official statistics cited have quality data published in relation to them (links are provided in the further information section below). This compendium report includes a summary of statistical data and information from a range of different sources (e.g. NISRA, Department for Communities, Translink, Continuous Household Survey, Family Resources Survey, Travel Survey Northern Ireland).
The report was developed following the Office for Statistics Regulation Systemic Review of Transport Accessibility Statistics; their report recommended that statistics producers should bring data and statistics together to meet user needs.
Following further engagement with users, this new summary report has been developed as an ad hoc reference document for the availability and use of transport accessibility statistics. A new Transport Accessibility Statistics webpage has also been added to the DfI website and this will include live links to relevant data enabling users to easily access the available data.
The Transport Accessibility Statistics Northern Ireland report which includes user guidance is published on the DfI website.
Relevance
The degree to which the statistical product meets user needs in both coverage and content.
The Transport Accessibility Statistics Northern Ireland report is a new, one-off Official Statistics report, published to meet the recommendations from the Office for Statistics Regulation Systemic Review of Transport Accessibility Statistics report.
The report will also be relevant to a wide range of users within DfI and also those external to DfI.
The report includes an html publication containing charts, infographics and associated commentary. There are also detailed tables and a standalone infographic available to meet the needs of different users. The background to the publication, as well as key quality information is included within the publication. In addition, all data are provided in Open Document Spreadsheets (ODS).
Accuracy and Reliability
The proximity between an estimate and the unknown true value.
As this is a compendium report, all data will previously have undergone accuracy and reliability checks by each data publisher. More details on their checks are available in quality documents associated with their reports.
For all data and tables that are included in the report, checks are employed by ASRB statisticians as an integral part of the production process. These checks included comparisons with previously published data.
ASRB publishing statisticians also discussed any data related queries with statisticians from other sections and departments where necessary.
If ASRB become aware that any data are revised then the report will highlight any revisions in line with ASRB’s Revisions and Errors Policy.
Timeliness and Punctuality
Timeliness refers to the time gap between publication and the reference period. Punctuality refers to the gap between planned and actual publication dates.
The report is a one-off compendium report and contains data that was the most up to date at the time of publication. Links are provided to data sources and users will be able to access more timely data through these if required.
Further information in relation to statistics on transport accessibility will also be available on the DfI website.
Advance notice of ASRB publication dates is available in the upcoming statistical releases calendar on the DfI website. Publication dates are also pre-announced on GOV.UK. This report was released on time. In the event of a change to a pre-announced release date, the delay would be announced and explained on both the DfI website and GOV.UK and the new publication date specified. If necessary, updates would be given regularly.
Accessibility and Clarity
Accessibility is the ease with which users are able to access the data, also reflecting the format in which the data are available and the availability of supporting information. Clarity refers to the quality and sufficiency of the metadata, illustrations and accompanying advice.
Original sources for all data used in the report are included in the report.
The report is published in html and is available free of charge on the DfI website.
The statistical tables are also available to download in MS Excel format and ODS (Open Document Spreadsheet) format, from the webpage. If requested, ASRB can provide hard copies or other suitable media.
The publication is accessible through the UK Official and National Statistics Publication Hub.
User Information is included in the publication to help users to understand and make the best possible use of the data. In addition, where necessary, explanatory footnotes are included in the Excel/ODS tables.
Every effort has been made to comply with the AA standard under the WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool (webaim.org).
The publication contains contact details of the responsible statistician who can be contacted for further information.
Coherence and Comparability
Coherence is the degree to which data that are derived from different sources or methods, but refer to the same topic, are similar. Comparability is the degree to which data can be compared over time and domain.
The data in the report are derived from a range of different sources and all refer to the topic of transport accessibility in Northern Ireland.
Data that are highlighted in the report were up to date at the time of publication.
The report will include links to each data provider / source that will enable users to access more up to date information.
Trade-offs between Output Quality Components
Trade-offs are the extent to which different aspects of quality are balanced against each other.
There are not considered to be any trade-offs.
Assessment of User Needs and Perceptions
The processes for finding out about users and uses, and their views on the statistical products.
The report was developed following the Office for Statistics Regulation Systemic Review of Transport Accessibility Statistics; this report recommended that statistics producers should bring data and statistics together to meet user needs. Following further engagement with users, this summary report has been developed as an ad hoc reference document for the availability and use of transport accessibility statistics.
There is also an ongoing ASRB customer satisfaction survey, which includes a question on whether ASRB publications meet customers’ needs. The link to the survey is issued every time users are notified that a report has been published or when an ad-hoc query is answered. Results are collated on an annual basis.
Performance, Cost and Respondent Burden
The effectiveness, efficiency, and economy of the statistical output.
As this is a compendium report, in most cases ASRB extracted the relevant data from pre-published information. Where additional data or information was required, this was followed up with the responsible statistician for the data. We therefore aimed to place minimal burden on the statisticians who had previously published the data.
Confidentiality, Transparency and Security
The procedures and policy used to ensure sound confidentiality, security and transparent practices.
ASRB adhere to the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) Code of Practice for Statistics in the dissemination of the report.
The report includes data that have either already been published or that can be extracted from already published sources. There are therefore no confidential data included in the report.
For more information relating to the quality of ‘Transport Accessibility Statistics Northern Ireland’, please contact ASRB@nisra.gov.uk
Links to data quality information for each of the data sources used in the report, are given below (the status of each source has also been noted in brackets): -
Census 2021 (National Statistics / Accredited Official Statistics)
Family Resources Survey (National Statistics / Accredited Official Statistics)
Benefits Statistics Summary (National Statistics / Accredited Official Statistics) This report includes a section on Data source and Quality and further information is available from Professional Services Unit.
Details of the Quality Assurance and Methodology used in the production of Personal Independence Payment Statistics are available on the DfC Website.
Continuous Household Survey (Official Statistics)
Public Transport Statistics (Official Statistics)
Driver Licensing Statistics (National Statistics / Accredited Official Statistics)
Travel Survey for Northern Ireland (National Statistics / Accredited Official Statistics)
Concessionary Fares (Management Information)
CARD (Independent survey)
User Engagement
We welcome feedback from users on this statistical report or on the new Transport Accessibility Statistics Webpage. Please send any comments you may have to ASRB@nisra.gov.uk .
Users can also provide feedback through our ongoing ASRB Customer Survey .
Last updated: March 2024