A summary percentage has no stated base
Find the table and count of valid responses. If the base cannot be identified, quote the percentage with that qualification and avoid deriving a headcount from an assumed population.
In-depth practical guides
Read and verify a public report
Find a figure, understand its scope and cite the right passage: a method for reading reports, annexes and tables while retaining their qualifications.
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Which conclusion does the document actually support?
A report has several layers: summary, method, findings, annexes and sometimes an associated dataset. The same expression can refer to different populations or periods across chapters. Start with a precise question to select useful passages and avoid treating a summary sentence as a universal measure. Connect each conclusion to evidence, a definition and a limitation.
Identify the correct edition
Record the complete title, issuing body, reference, publication date and any revision notice. Open the document from its official publication page rather than an isolated copy. A new edition may change a method or correct a table without retaining pagination.
Define the question before extracting
Write the proposition to check: which indicator, population, territory and period? Then find the corresponding definition. A national total, respondent average and subgroup estimate answer different questions even when their labels look similar.
Read methods and qualifications
Check collection rules, exclusions, estimates and missing values. Read notes beneath the table and references to annexes. Distinguish observed result, estimate, target and scenario; preserve that qualification in your written summary.
Check tables in context
Connect every value to its header, unit and denominator. Test a total’s consistency without assuming all categories are mutually exclusive. If PDF extraction mixes columns, compare copied text with the visible layout; seek an official HTML or tabular version.
Build a retrievable reference
Record the printed page and, if different, its position in the PDF. Add table, paragraph or annex number. Keep a short contextual excerpt and document link; linking only to the issuing organisation’s homepage does not locate the figure.
Write a proportionate conclusion
State what this version establishes within its scope. Separate cited data from interpretation. If editions differ, explain a verified change or leave its cause undetermined; do not combine figures based on incompatible methods.
Situations and decisions
Typical situations for preparing a check. They do not describe completed assignments or actual observations.
An annex changes an initial reading
Check whether passages concern the same year, unit and scope. A note may exclude a category from the total. Describe the scope difference before calling it a contradiction.
The PDF and dataset disagree
Compare versions and dates, then a small set of rows or cells. Preserve both documents and record the discrepancy. The easiest file to process is not automatically the newest.
Record to retain
- Complete reference, official URL, edition and consultation date.
- Question, scope, indicator definition and unit.
- Page, table or annex, contextual excerpt and relevant qualification.
- Transformations, version differences and unresolved points.
Official references
Related protocols
Frequently asked questions
Must the entire report be read?
Start with the question, then read sections defining its meaning: method, findings and associated notes. Scan the overall structure to locate decisive annexes. Targeted reading is valid when its scope is explicit.
Can a screenshot be the only citation?
It can help show a table, but add the reference, version and context. It does not replace notes explaining scope, units or exclusions.
How should two years be compared?
First check compatibility of definitions, populations, collection and units. Record breaks in the series. If compatibility is unestablished, present results separately instead of calculating a misleading change.
What if the document disappears?
Keep the reference and last-access date. A dated copy or archive can support historical reading with provenance stated; it does not itself prove that the content remains current.