Notes from the Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology Policy Conference

I attended a session on “Realizing the Potential Offered by Administrative Data” at the 13th Biennial Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology (FCSM) Policy Conference on December 6, 2016. The session focused on how federal agencies can increase the power of their data by linking across data sets. While each agency gathers a trove of data that informs policy and research, the value of these data increases even further when linked. The session was chaired by Charlie Rothwell, Director, National Center for Health Statistics.

Quentin Brummet, Branch Chief for Experiments & Innovation at the Center for Administrative Records Research and Applications for the U.S. Census Bureau, spoke about policy issues in the use of administrative records in Census Bureau surveys. He discussed how the Teacher and Principal Survey was effectively linked to microdata from the U.S. Census Bureau in order to examine outcomes related to school leaders and educators.

Marilyn Seastrom, Chief Statistician and Director of Statistical Standards and Data Confidentiality for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), discussed how NCES has over two decades of experience blending surveys and administrative data about every aspect of the nation’s schools, and how this data can be linked.

Analysis of administrative data, especially from federal agencies, is a core part of Summit’s competencies. Summit has assisted the Department of Labor in using administrative data for enforcement analytics and predictive analytics for greater mine safety.

The FCSM serves as a resource to inform decision making on matters of statistical policy and to provide technical assistance and guidance on statistical and methodological issues affecting federal statistics.  The program for this year's conference, hosted each year, is available here.