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Accuracy and reliability

Contact info

Welfare and Health, Social Statistics
Chris Cornelia Friis Christiansen
+45 23 13 05 91

ccc@dst.dk

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Shelters

Submitting data is required by law. The number of persons who use a type of accommodation as prescribed by section 110 of the Social Services Act during the year is measured fairly accurately. In some cases, completion is lacking in categories such as where the citizen is referred from, how the discharge has been taken place and where the user has been discharged to. In these cases, "unknown" is used in regard to the validation.

Overall accuracy

It is mandatory to report data concerning persons and overnight stays. The number of undisclosed values is more prominent in some variables than others, which is, for example, due to citizen not being asked or being able to answer the questions. In addition, missing check-in and check-out dates may potentially affect the accuracy of overall statistics.

Sampling error

The statistics are a total statement for all citizens covered by section 110 of the Service Act. Hereby, there is no sample uncertainty.

Non-sampling error

The duration of stay may be overrated for the latest statistical year and must be taken with reservations due to data insecurity, e.g. missing registration of check-out date which is not ascertained until later. The institutions’ use of “unknown” may also impact the accuracy of the statistics. If there are two subsequent check-ins or check-outs for an user at the same accommodation facility, a check-in or check-out date will be inserted for the day after the first registration so that the stay will be registered as lasting one day. This means that the statistics probably overestimate the number of stays lasting one day. Stays that are not reported to Statistic Denmark may also impact the statistics.

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 rate of uncertainty is estimated to be <5 per cent for the duration of stays and the use of “Not stated” in some of the categories.

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

All stays that have been active during the counting year have had the opportunity for revision by the shelter. This includes stays that, for example, started in the year preceding the counting year but did not yet have a discharge date. If the shelter has revisions for stays that ended within the last three years but were not active in the counting year, they should contact Statistics Denmark so it can be corrected. If the stay ended more than 3 years ago, it will be individually assessed whether the adjustment is significant. Once data for each year is generated, the dataset can be compared to previous submissions, and it can be assessed whether the statistics need to be revised.