Frame the decision
Write down the question, population, geography, period and intended use. Separate internal exploration from a public claim or individual decision.
GUIDE / PROTOCOL
Assess a public dataset before reuse
A catalogue entry helps you find data; it does not establish the quality of every record or its fitness for your question.
Direct answer
When can a public dataset support a conclusion?
Define the target population and period first. Check the producer, documentation, statistical unit, coverage, definitions, actual downloaded resource and licence. Test missing values and breaks in series. Preserve the version used and keep the conclusion within the data’s scope.
01 / Review method
Review method
Read the method
Identify the producer, primary source, unit observed, definitions, sampling if any, granularity and methodological changes. Compare stated coverage with your actual need.
Inspect the resource
Open the file or API, not just its listing. Check dates, columns, units, missing values, duplicates, geographic codes, aggregates and possible revisions. Match sample values to the documentation.
Decide and record
Record licence and attribution duties, identifier, URL, resource date and checksum, transformations and checks. Narrow the inference or seek another source if scope or quality is insufficient.
02 / Evidence to keep
Evidence to keep
Scope
Question, population, time and geographic coverage, statistical unit and known exclusions.
Provenance
Producer, dataset ID, methodological documentation, licence and access date.
Processed version
Resource name and URL, retrieval date, format, schema, checksum and version if available.
Repeatable check
Cleaning rules, missing values, consistency test, external comparison and limits of the claim.
PRACTICAL CHECK
Before reaching a conclusion
A frequent misreading and the check that helps avoid it.
Premature conclusion
A complete listing or high score is mistaken for validation of the observations.
Decisive check
Download a sample, compare units and dates to the method, and quantify missing values before drawing the conclusion.
AFTER THE REVIEW
Decide from the evidence
Two dates differ
The listing changed but the file did not. Preserve both dates and verify which resource holds the relevant observations.
A definition changes
Separate periods on either side of the break, record the method and avoid claiming a continuous trend without a justified adjustment.
Decision and review trail
Decision and review trail
What the check must help decide and what to retain so the choice can be reviewed.
Sufficient evidence
Scope fits the question, the file was inspected, method and licence are known, and limitations can be stated clearly.
Next decision
Publish a bounded claim with version and transformations; otherwise pause, supplement or change source.
OSINT / Official references
Choose the catalogue for the question
The portal points to a resource; the evidence still depends on its method and actual file.
data.gouv.fr
Why start hereFind French producers, licences, resources and publication dates.
Limit to rememberCheck the chosen dataset’s publisher, coverage, licence, method and last update.
Read source entryEurostat · Data Browser
Why start hereCompare European series, definitions and reference metadata.
Limit to rememberCheck method, revisions and coverage; the live database may not retain past versions.
Read source entryInsee · Séries chronologiques
Why start hereCheck a French series and its methods before combining figures.
Limit to rememberKeep the series code, unit, coverage, method and revisions; different scopes are not directly comparable.
Read source entry03 / FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does a catalogue quality score validate the figures?
No. It covers documentation, licence and other metadata. Check the file and method separately.
Is a recent update date enough?
No. It does not tell you which periods are covered or whether older observations were revised.
Can two producers’ series be combined?
Only after comparing units, definitions, geography, periods and methods; document mappings and breaks.
Which version should be cited?
Cite the exact dataset and resource, retrieval date, stable ID or URL, and transformations.
What if the licence is missing?
Do not assume unrestricted reuse. Check the producer’s conditions before the intended publication.
04 / Official references