Before we dig into the some of the many intricacies of the data world, we will by sharing how we approach working with data. Standards of practice for data collection and processing are very often challenging to find. In an effort to be transparent within our team as well as with users interacting with the site, we developed the following list of data quality standards:

• We will ethically use and display data
• We will be transparent in our data collection and processing methods
• We will be as precise in the data as is possible
• We will be explicit about weaknesses in the data with our users
• We will have a firm grasp of the methods (data collection and our own processing methods) before we post data on the Communities Reporter Tool (CRT)
• We will explain methods clearly to everyone, both on the website and in other communications
• We will be mindful of the story we are telling with the data, as well as the story that needs to be told regarding the topic at hand
• We will address data errors as quickly as possible when discovered
• We will view the discovery of data errors as opportunities to learn and improve our methods

It is with these standards in mind that we dive into the depths of the data world.

Join us, won’t you?