Name and version: Data Quality Assurance Framework
Alternative name: DQF
Valid: From July 2003
Description:
The DQAF is used for comprehensive assessments of national data quality. It covers institutional environments, statistical processes, and characteristics of the statistical products. It has five dimensions (assurances of integrity, methodological soundness, accuracy and reliability, serviceability, and accessibility) and a set of prerequisites for data quality. It is rooted in the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics and grew out of the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) and General Data Dissemination System (GDDS), the IMF's initiatives on data dissemination. The DQAF incorporates their good practices and is the result of intensive consultations.
The generic DQAF July 2003 serves as an umbrella for seven dataset-specific frameworks. This version is a refinement of the preceding July 2001 version to reflect experience and international statistical developments, particularly updated international methodological standards.
Intended use: The DQAF provides a structure for the assessment of quality of national economic data by assessing existing practices against best practices and internationally accepted methodologies. It is used:
- To guide IMF staff on data use and priorities for technical assistance;
- To guide country efforts e.g., to prepare self-assessments;
- To guide data users in evaluating data for policy analysis, forecasts, and economic performance.
Maintenance organization: The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
ISO Standard Number: Not applicable
References:
IMF DQAF web site: http://dsbb.imf.org/Applications/web/dqrs/dqrsdqaf/
IMF SDDS web site: http://dsbb.imf.org/Applications/web/sddshome/
Relationships to other standards: Concept Map
The DQAF serves a similar purpose to, and can be mapped to the European Statistical System Standard for Quality Reports (ESQR)
Language: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
Description last updated / validated: 20 November 2009