Accuracy and reliability

Overall accuracy

Statistics Denmark does instruct and guide the municipalities on correct procedures of data reporting. The Executive Order on Data Reporting in the Social Area also ensures uniformity in data reporting.

Sampling error

Not relevant for these statistics.

Non-sampling error

Only approved data from the municipalities are published. The municipalities approve data on a summarized level. There are variables not included in the approval procedure. Therefore, some uncertainty can occur on a more detailed level, for instance the causes or changes in placement in out-of home care or in instances where the child or young relocates after the termination of out-of-home care.

In 2020, the municipality of Copenhagen has changed it's digital system for data reporting. As a consequence there is deficiency in data for 2019 concerning the initiations, consent and decisive causes of placement in out-of home care.

Quality management

Statistics Denmark follows the recommendations on organisation and management of quality given in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and the implementation guidelines given in the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF). A Working Group on Quality and a central quality assurance function have been established to continuously carry through control of products and processes.

Quality assurance

Statistics Denmark follows the principles in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and uses the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF) for the implementation of the principles. This involves continuous decentralized and central control of products and processes based on documentation following international standards. The central quality assurance function reports to the Working Group on Quality. Reports include suggestions for improvement that are assessed, decided and subsequently implemented.

Quality assessment

All 98 municipalities have received a validation report with key figures. In subsequent dialogue and investigation, a number of municipalities have received further information. The municipalities themselves assess the quality and approve the reported data.

Data revision - policy

Statistics Denmark revises published figures in accordance with the Revision Policy for Statistics Denmark. The common procedures and principles of the Revision Policy are for some statistics supplemented by a specific revision practice.

Data revision practice

Revisions for previous years are implemented when compiling results for a new year. Respondents can make corrections to already reported data or additions of new information daily as the register is an occurrence register. These changes will be included in the next publication. Only few revisions are expected for earlier years. Published data in the StatBank are revised from 2011 and forward.