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Public Confidence in Official Statistics

About this study

First conducted in 2004, this research measured how public trust in official statistics had changed over time and what the reasons for this might have been.

You can use the red button on the right hand side of the screen to download the full report or read some key findings below.

Between 2007 and 2009 the level of trust in population figures and cost of living figures decreased. So too did trust in the  UK government as a whole. However, trust in the NHS and hospital waiting figures improved.

The research also pointed to a weakening in the general public's perception of the accuracy of official statistics. People often distrusted official figures if they did not match their own personal experience, or because they thought the government has a vested interest in the figures or had interfered with them.

People also distrusted figures which they perceived as being misrepresented or spun by politicians and the media.

The principal reasons given for trusting official figures were also based on personal experience or because the figures were easy to count or measure.

This study was part of the NatCen Omnibus survey. Previous questions about public confidence in official statistics  were asked in 2005 and 2007.

Timeline

Potential policy impact

This study helped to monitor the effect of ongoing efforts to improve confidence in official statistics. For example, in 2007 the Statistics and Registration Service Act was passed and in 2008 the UK Statistics Authority was established.

Methodology

A module of questions was run on the NatCen Omnibus survey in 2009. This involved undertaking interviews with a representative sample of 1,333 respondents throughout Great Britain.

Of interest: