The U.S. Statistical System (cont’d)
•With
respect to the confidential information that they collect,
agencies are “data stewards” and must balance two
objectives:
–1.
to assure that the responses of respondents are protected and
–2.
to provide uses statistical information to data users.
•
•Important to remember: There is no
such thing as a "zero risk"
of disclosure (parenthetically, the only way to have no risk is to not collect data). Federal agencies work hard to keep this risk as low as possible.