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Improving Data Quality: Actors, Incentives, and Capabilities

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  • Herrera, Yoshiko M.
  • Kapur, Devesh

Abstract

This paper examines the construction and use of data sets in political science. We focus on three interrelated questions: How might we assess data quality? What factors shape data quality? and How can these factors be addressed to improve data quality? We first outline some problems with existing data set quality, including issues of validity, coverage, and accuracy, and we discuss some ways of identifying problems as well as some consequences of data quality problems. The core of the paper addresses the second question by analyzing the incentives and capabilities facing four key actors in a data supply chain: respondents, data collection agencies (including state bureaucracies and private organizations), international organizations, and finally, academic scholars. We conclude by making some suggestions for improving the use and construction of data sets. It is a capital mistake, Watson, to theorise before you have all the evidence. It biases the judgment. —Sherlock Holmes in “A Study in Scarlet” Statistics make officials, and officials make statistics.” —Chinese proverb

Suggested Citation

  • Herrera, Yoshiko M. & Kapur, Devesh, 2007. "Improving Data Quality: Actors, Incentives, and Capabilities," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(4), pages 365-386.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:polals:v:15:y:2007:i:04:p:365-386_00
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    1. repec:idq:ictduk:13713 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Prichard, Wilson, 2016. "Reassessing Tax and Development Research: A New Dataset, New Findings, and Lessons for Research," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 48-60.
    3. Peter Midmore & Mark D. Partridge & M. Rose Olfert & Kamar Ali, 2010. "The Evaluation of Rural Development Policy: Macro and Micro Perspectives L’évaluation de la politique de développement rural: perspectives macro et microéconomiques Die Evaluation der Politik zur Entw," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 9(1), pages 24-29, April.
    4. Lawrence Sáez, 2013. "Methods in governance research: a review of research approaches," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series esid-017-13, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    5. Mike Seiferling, 2020. "Apples, oranges and lemons: public sector debt statistics in the 21st century," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 6(1), pages 1-17, December.
    6. Anastasia Shesterinina, 2022. "Between victory and statehood: Armed violence in post-war Abkhazia," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2022-137, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    7. repec:idq:ictduk:13654 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Kerner, Andrew & Crabtree, Charles, 2018. "The Political Economy of Data Production," SocArXiv qsxae, Center for Open Science.
    9. Svend-Erik Skaaning, 2018. "Different Types of Data and the Validity of Democracy Measures," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(1), pages 105-116.

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