The growth and impact over the years of the Open Data Inventory (ODIN) would not be possible without the dedicated researchers behind it. ODIN is the world’s only independent measure of the openness of official statistics. Since its first round of assessments in 2016, ODIN has become a valued tool used by national statistical offices (NSOs) to measure the progress of their efforts to open data. Of note in 2022, ODIN’s latest edition will be expanded to include a special focus on gender data.
Ahead of each ODIN assessment period, researchers go through in-depth training to learn its rigorous and unique methodology and its broad aims and objectives. They then spend three months carefully assessing NSO websites in 195 countries, methodically recording the results for 65 indicators across 22 categories. In the process, there are extensive questions to answer on data coverage (Are the data published and disaggregated?) and openness (Are the data published with metadata and how much?). The initial results are then sent for quality assurance to selected expert reviewers before becoming the rich analysis seen in the published report.
In an effort to spotlight the work of assessors and reviewers, ODW has launched this new series, “Meet the Researchers Behind the Open Data Inventory” where each month we briefly interview one of the researchers involved in the work behind the widespread impact that the Open Data Inventory has had in making data more available and open worldwide.
Bookmark this page for more profiles in the coming months!