August 25, 2003

The Data Difference: The Data Users Guide: Using data for better decisions

The Data Users Task Group, Oregon Department of Human Services uses fictional stories in this article to exemplify current issues of data collection, usage, and making better decisions with correct and sound information. The following stories take place in a place called Cascadia County. The story concerns a county staff member and a local human services coalition. The member will gather and analyze data, and share his work with stakeholders and the public. Of course, there is no Cascadia County, it has been created as a means of presenting guidance about data in useable terms. The principles we present here about sound collection and use of data apply wherever people seek better information to support better decisions.