Data Needs To Be Collected
A challenge with the “what” and “how” of data collection.
As a starting point, workforce and education data needs to be collected to inform decision-making. There are gaps in what data Texas collects at the state level, and some of the data that is collected is not the best metric for measuring what we are aiming to measure, or it is not collected in a precise or accurate manner.
'%20fill=''/%3e%3cpath%20d='M2%2020.5811L11.2497%2011.5686L2.01277%202.58105'%20stroke='%23F26852'%20stroke-width='3.25'%20stroke-miterlimit='10'%20stroke-linecap='round'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M13.7376%2020.5811L23%2011.5686L13.7631%202.58105'%20stroke='%23F26852'%20stroke-width='3.25'%20stroke-miterlimit='10'%20stroke-linecap='round'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
1
Are we collecting data?
2
Are we collecting the right data?
3
Are we collecting with sufficient precision?
4
Are we collecting with sufficient frequency?
Data Should Be
1. Collected
Is the data being collected? Texas collects data at the state level, but there are still gaps in data collection. For example, the Unemployment Insurance wage record is used as an education and workforce metric, however more granular data could be collected as part of that record, such as job-level occupation data and hours worked.
2. Appropriate
Does the data being gathered align with the intended purpose or questions the stakeholder is trying to address?
Appropriateness refers to whether the data is a good measure for what we are trying to measure. Often we collect samples or proxies, rather than the complete and specific data that would be the best measurement tool, to learn more about a specific question or need.
3. Precise
Whether the same data points are gathered in the same way every time. Precision is achieved by avoiding variations in how data is collected or recorded.
Also known as “validity” (whether data values are consistent with a defined domain of valid values, including the data type and format of expected values). Data may be precise but not appropriate.
4. Frequently Collected
Frequency refers to how often the data is collected. In order to have timely and useful data, the data needs to be collected often enough to accurately capture shifts in education and workforce and be useful in decision-making.
