Glossary A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z The glossary will try and explain as many basic terms as possible. If you cannot find a specific term in this glossary, then either try using Google or wikipedia to search for the term; or contact us using the details found at the bottom of this page. A Aggregate Aggregated data is that which combines data together. It often refers to data for a particular locality, so would, for example, combine the results of male and female respondents of a particular survey in a certain place, and combine the results from all ethnic groups to create an aggregate for a particular place/area. Analysis Finding and interpreting information to provide evidence for partners to reach agreement about the ‘story’ of a place – the current position, trends and changes, and future risks and opportunities Area profile A report or summary which presents the analysis of a wide range of information (demography, labour market, education and skills, health, environment) for a particular place which is used to understand the story of a place. Average The average (or mean) of a dataset can be calculated by adding together all of the values in a dataset and dividing this number by the total number of values. It is a means of capturing important information about a random set of data in a single quantity (along with other types of basic analysis such as mode and median) B Bar chart A means of analysing and displaying data in vertical (or horizontal) bars representing quantitative data. It is a useful technique for displaying one set of data against another, for example, comparing employment rates of all the local authorities in a region for a particular moment in time. Baseline A baseline is a definition of a place at a given point in time involving a set of indicators or measures. It is carried out to reach agreement about the current conditions of a place before an intervention or set of interventions is carried out and also used as 'the starting point' from which to measure performance improvement Basket of indicators A number of measures used together to give an indication of performance for a particular outcome. A basket of indicators is usually used when outcome data is not available, not easily measurable or it is difficult to attribute change to what is happening on the ground. Benchmark Benchmarking involves comparing data for an area against that of similar areas, or comparing a process against that of best practice elsewhere. BERR The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) works to to create the conditions for business success across the country. Best Value Performance Indicator BVPI's provide a rounded view of local authority performance delivery and are designed to enable central Government to monitor progress over time, allow authorities to compare their performance against that of their peers and provide residents with information on their local authority. BVPI Best Value Performance Indicator's provide a rounded view of local authority performance delivery and are designed to enable central Government to monitor progress over time, allow authorities to compare their performance against that of their peers and provide residents with information on their local authority. C CDRP Crime Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) are partnerships made up of key agencies who work together to combat crime, disorder and misuse of drugs in a local authority area. Audits and subsequent strategies are developed every three years. Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) CAA is a new approach that aims to provide an independent assessment of the prospects for local areas and the quality of life of residents. The CAA is being developed by seven partner inspectorates, including the Audit Commission. CAA replaces the CPA and will be introduced from April 2009. Confidence interval A calculation to identify how confident you can be about data being true (usually used for survey results) Contextualisation Making sense of data, involving comparing data on a particular place with regional and national comparators and a place’s nearest neighbour. It also involves exploring external factors affecting a place and wider influences, e.g. migration. Correlation Drawing a line through the points on a scattergraph to summarise the relationship between two sets of data. CSP Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) is the terms given for Crime Disorder Reducation Partnerships (CDRPs) in Wales. D DAT Drug Action Teams (DATs) are the partnerships responsible for delivering the drug strategy at a local level. Data Protection Act A UK Act of Parliament defining a legal basis for the handling of information relating to people living in the UK. DCSF The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) is the UK Government Department with responsibility for children's services, families and schools, 14-19 education, and the Respect Taskforce. Disagregate To disagregate data is to pull it apart to find out, for example, the differences in the results by gender, age, ethnicity or tenure DoH The Department of Health (DoH) provides health and social care policy, guidance and publications for NHS and social care professionals. DWP The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has the aims of promoting opportunity and independence for all; helping individuals to achieve their potential through employment; and working to end poverty in all its forms. E Evaluation Evaluation is a set of methods and processes designed to tell you if an intervention has achieved its aim or objectives and explains impacts and outcomes (what worked, why and for whom). Extrapolate A calculcation which extends the known data points beyond its limits to create more data points (usually in time) F Freedom of Information Act A law which defined a legal process by which government information is required to be available to the public. G Gentrification The conversion of an ageing or typically working-class or inner-city district into a more affluent middle-class neighbourhood, through the remodelling of dwellings, resulting in increased property values and displacement of many of the original residents. GIS - Geographical Information Systems Geographical Information Systems are software which you can use to create thematic maps to display data. Thematic maps are best used to display comparisons of a particular data set across areas. H Hard data Sometimes called statistical data or quantitative data and usually involves numbers, figures or rates, for example, employment rates, teenage conception rates, population estimates. I IDeA The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) works for local government improvement so councils can serve people and places better. It is owned by the Local Government Association and belongs to local government. Impact Long-term effects on people or places brought about through projects, activities and services Indicator The unit of measurement used to capture outcomes. Sometimes the indicator will measure the outcome quite accurately e.g. employment rates for employment, and sometimes it will be developed to give the best measurement possible e.g. smoking cessation for health improvement. Input Resources which are put into an intervention such as funding, staff and partners J JRF The Jospeph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) is an independent organisation that works in partnership with all sectors to search, demonstrate and influence, providing evidence, solutions and ideas that will help overcome the causes of poverty and disadvantage. JSA Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) is the benefit that can be claimed by those actively seeking employment. K L LDF All local planning authorities are required to produce a Local Development Framework (LDF). LGA The Local Government Association (LGA) is a voluntary lobbying association, acting as the voice of the local government sector, set up in 1997. LSC The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) exists to improve the skills of England's young people and adults to ensure England have a workforce of world-class standard. LSP Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) are non-statutory, multi-agency partnerships, which match local authority boundaries and bring together at a local level the different parts of the public, private, community and voluntary sectors; allowing different initiatives and services to support one another so that they can work together more effectively. M MAA A multi-area agreement (MAA) is designed to be cross-boundary local area agreement (LAA). They bring together key players in flexible ways to tackle issues that are best addressed in partnership – at a regional and sub-regional level. Mean (or Average) The mean (or average) of a dataset can be calculated by adding together all of the values in a dataset and dividing this number by the total number of values. It is a means of capturing important information about a random set of data in a single quantity (along with other types of basic analysis such as mode and median) Median The number that sits right in the middle of a dataset when all of the data has been arranged in descending order; so the number that seperates the top half of the dataset from the bottom half. It is a means of capturing important information about a random set of data in a single quantity (along with other types of basic analysis such as mean and mode) Milestone The equivalent of a numerical target in qualitiative form; a project or programme action, activity or process which is a framework for the project plan and has a timeframe attached Mode The number that occurs most frequently within a particular dataset and is a means of capturing important information about a random set of data in a single quantity (along with other types of basic analysis such as mean and median) N NEET NEET is the term given for young people (16-18 year olds) not in education, employment or training. Reducing the proportion of NEET is a key priority for the Government, as it is a major predictor of later unemployment, low income, teenage motherhood, depression and poor physcial health. NI As part of the Comprehensive Spending Review announcement the Government published the single set of 198 national indicators (Nis) that underpin the new performance framework. O Ofsted Ofsted is an organisation that inspect and regulate to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. ONS The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial department which reports directly to Parliament. It produces independent information to improve our understanding of the UK's economy and society. Options appraisal A decision-making tool to identify the different ways that an outcome can be achieved and the best way (in terms of cost effectiveness, feasibility, etc) of delivering the outcome Outcome Changes and effects brought about from delivering projects, activities or services Outcome planning A technique for ensuring that delivery is focused on outcomes and helps select the improvements that are really needed to make a difference to people and places Output Projects, activities or services delivered as a result of an intervention and/or numbers of people benefiting from these P PAS The Planning Advisory Service PAS is an IDEA website funded by CLG giving guidance mainly to all those involved in spatial planning. Performance analysis A technique which analyses the performance of a particular dataset looking at progress over time, and usually makes comparisons with local and national data Performance management The process of taking a broad view of performance and using this information to improve delivery Performance monitoring The process of collecting and analysing information to measure performance against certain outputs Pie chart A technique used to display data as a proportion of a total Planning Advisory Service The Planning Advisory Service PAS is an IDEA website funded by CLG giving guidance mainly on spatial planning. Planning Compare Outcome planning and Spatial Planning Primary data Information collected first hand, e.g. through a survey, questionnaires, focus group or interviews Programme management Using a management framework to deliver a co-ordinated set of activites or projects in order to deliver a set of outcomes. Project management The management of specific acitivities to deliver certain outcomes within certain resources over a specified period of time. Projection Calculations carried out to estimate the change that is likely to happen in the future Proxy indicators Measurements designed to give an indication of how an intervention is having an effect upon a target group or area when accurate hard data is not available. A good example is when you use benefit claimants as a proxy for employment in small areas when employment data is not available. These are often used when you want to show progress towards longer term change; e.g. using lifestyle survey questions to show progress made towards for example, reducing mortality rates. PSA The Government announced 30 cross-departmental Public Service Agreements (PSAs), setting out its top priorities as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) in October 2007. These apply over the spending period from 2008 to 2011, replacing the department's SR04 PSAs Q Qualitative data Qualititative information such as local consultation results, perception surveys, information from interviews and focus groups/discussion groups, and information from colleagues. It is sometimes called soft data (in contrast to statistical or hard data). Quantitative data Data which involves numbers, for example, employment rates, teenage conception rates and population estimates. Soemtimes called hard data. R Rank Where data sit amongst comparative national or regional data e.g. the local authority with the 10th highest unemployment rates; the 5th most deprived ward in the region RDA England’s Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) were first launched in 1999, with the London Development Agency following in 2000. Their mission is to spread economic prosperity and opportunity to everyone in the nine regions of England. Regression A calculation of two sets of data to discover if a relationship exists between them. Regression analysis A sort of correlation that calculates the key factors that determine an outcome RES A Regional Economic Strategy (RES) is a blueprint for the economic development of a particular English region. Risk management A structured approach to managing uncertainty and identifying and mitigating risks relating to an intervention Rolling average A series of averages moving over time based on a constant number of values by including the next installment of data and excluding the oldest installment. Often used for small numbers with a lot of year to year variation e.g. three year rolling average for teenage conceptions S SAP SAP is the Government's Standard Assessment Procedure for Energy Rating of Dwellings. It is used to demonstrate compliance with building regulations for dwellings and to provide energy ratings for dwellings. Scattergraph A technique to display data that is best used to show changes in the data over time Secondary data Information that has been collected by someone else for a specific purpose, e.g. information from an evaluation, data from on-line resources e.g. NOMIS, Neighbourhood Statistics SOA Super Output Areas are a statistical geography published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). They are made up of three hierarchical layers: lower (LSOA), middle (MSOA) and upper (SOA). The boundaries are used for the production of small area statistics. Socio-economic profile A report detailing the 'story' of a place, usually using a range of information such as demographics, education, labour market, crime, health and perceptions of local people Soft data Qualitative information, such as local consultation results, perceptions surveys, and information from colleagues that can be used alongside hard data (numbers) for more robust analysis Spatial Planning Spatial planning refers to the methods used by the public sector to influence the distribution of people and activities in spaces of various scales. Spatial planning includes all levels of land use planning including urban planning, regional planning, environmental planning and national spatial plans. Statistical range A calculation of a dataset which gives you a measure of how varied or disperse a dataset is. It is calculated by subtracting the smallest value from the greatest value. Statistical significance A test to measure how 'true' your data is (not due to chance). It is most commonly used for survey data. Statistics A term used to describe the collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data T Thematic map A map which uses shading to show how areas compare within a wider region/locality. It is a good technique for displaying such things as how employment levels compare across a region. Also called a GIS map. Theory of change A technique often used in evaluation to help to understand the process or mechanism by which change has occurred Time-series graph A graph which displays data historically, usually monthly or yearly increments, to show how an area has changed or performed over time, perhaps on a particular indicator. Trajectory analysis Projecting a trend line forward in time to estimate future performance for a range of options Trend The tracking of data historically over time to provide a pattern (usually a line through a time-series graph) of how things have changed or performed over the years. Trends are used to show the direction of travel on a particular indicator or dataset within a particular place. Triangulation A technique that is used to assure the validity of data by using a variety of data sources. It is a way of overcoming the weaknesses and biases that can arise from the use of only one type of data. U V Value for Money (VfM) A calculation which usually includes a cost per unit measurement with comparisons, providing an indication of how much (in terms of outputs) an intervention has achieved for its cost (bangs for your bucks) W WNF The Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF) is part of the Government's drive to get people off welfare and into work. The new fund replaces CLG's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and incorporates the Department for Work and Pension's (DWP) Deprived Areas Fund to create a single fund. X Y Z Z-scores An advanced analysis technique used to compare distributions. For more information on z-scores use Google to find sites explaining the term and giving examples.

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