World Statistics Day: The search and need for trusted data from What’s New

Those in positions of responsibility are facing major challenges when it comes to trusted data use—as the current pandemic shows how important data is for society, politics, and companies. Transparency is vital.

This situation also shows that the understanding of data, and related analyses, is not obvious. Do consumers of the insights know where the data comes from, or how it was modeled? Is it clear where there is uncertainty in the underlying data? Is the source data available for others to interrogate?

Think back to the “flatten the curve” charts that taught us so much at the start of this pandemic. The images presented two possible outcomes, based on different levels of lockdowns. This type of chart was easy to understand, and they were accompanied by detailed data stories explaining how they worked.

By not overcomplicating the narrative, local politicians and media outlets were able to clearly communicate their key messages to the public and, through that clarity and openness, were able to establish a level of trust. As we all came to terms with the new disease, the data—having been presented so well—helped people change their behaviors.