Disseminating data...

More than 21 million visitors check out the StatCan website each year. We are looking for ways to make life a little simpler for each and every one of them.

As the world of data publishing has evolved, so has the StatCan site, moving quickly from presenting static tables to generating dynamic ones online. Most visitors have followed the changes with relative ease and they can find the information they need. But many visitors have also told us—sometimes loudly—that it is time to rethink how we publish data and to build something simpler.

We have heard the message. We are rethinking both the website and how we make data available to Canadians. Early next year, StatCan will begin the beta testing of new prototypes, and will invite users to test drive them online and tell us what they think.

“The goal of the project is to make our information more readily accessible to a wide range of data users. So we really wanted to think about the ways that our statistics—especially our aggregate statistics—are organized, stored and presented on the website, and how to make it simpler for people to navigate through our data holdings,” says Bill Joyce, the Director responsible for the project.

Developing this new dissemination model is a three-year project. In year one, large-scale, national consultations were conducted to find out what users need and want and a vision was created. Now, in year two, those ideas are implemented and tested.

The new model builds upon important open data changes made in 2012, including the move to make data free on the website and the adoption of an unrestricted licensing agreement that removes barriers to re-using data.

The vision for the new model is based on four key concepts:

Dynamically driven content fed from a common database: A new database of aggregate statistics will feed more dynamic content on the StatCan website. Old style data publications filled with page after page of data tables will be replaced with a more modern and interactive way of presenting data.

Better navigation: An enhanced web structure will improve navigation, and will focus it on users’ main areas of concern. Applying consistent filters will make it easier to find information. The current 32-subject categories will be fine-tuned and an A–Z list will make it easier to find specific topics. Users will also more easily find data by geographic region.

Simplify the product line: A simplified, standard product line will make the site more functional and easier for users to access. The goal is to achieve a common format. No matter what subject, the interface will be familiar and understandable.

Revised output formats: One template will be used to display all data—from simple indicators and tables that can be displayed and printed, to complex tables that can be customized and manipulated by users. More sophisticated users will be able to download full datasets using Web data services.

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“The pyramid approach is fundamental to offering different levels of materials to a different range of users,” Mr. Joyce says. “We have users who just want one a single number, others will look for a simple reference table, and still others will need a more detailed view. We have users who will take away the data and analyze it further in their own environment. We also have larger organizations that just want to access our data through a web data service and to harvest our updates.”

How will StatCan measure success? For starters, the agency will test whether users are more successful in finding data. Widespread consultations will also continue. “We plan to prototype, test and enhance, and to prototype, test and enhance again, and go through that agile development cycle,” Mr. Joyce says. “It is important to do this based on the users’ needs and not our own preconceptions.”

How can users help? Well, there is no time like the present. Please use the comment feature on this blog to tell us what you think is important. Tell us why the website needs to be improved. What are your pet peeves? What works? What should change?

We will be conducting usability testing with users for the remainder of this year. Please stay tuned for our online beta testing in 2014.

Next month: Government Finance Statistics Program