Definition: Statistical standard

Category: Australian Bureau of Statistics

A statistical standard in this context can be defined as a set of components which, when used together, produce consistent and high quality statistical output (about the concepts which underpin the statistical variables) across collections and over time. Statistical standards are the approved rules applied by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in the development, collection, processing and dissemination of official statistics.

A statistical standard includes many components which specify standard practice at any point in the cycle of data collection, processing and dissemination. The essential set of components that comprise and specify a statistical standard for a variable are as follows: 

- Standard name of the variable; 
- Standard definition of the variable; 
- Standard question(s); 
- Standard classification; 
- Standard coding procedures; and 
- Standard output categories. http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DirClassManualsbyTopic/76CD93AA32E74B29CA25713E0005A2EA?OpenDocument