Compare Public Dashboards with Downloadable Data
Check dates, definitions, and coverage before comparing a dashboard view with its downloadable dataset.
Identify the same measure
Before comparing formats, confirm that the dashboard view and downloadable file refer to the same measure, geography, and time period. Similar labels can conceal different definitions. One view may show a monthly total while a file contains individual records or a cumulative count. Record the displayed title, data date, unit, and geographic level for each. If the dashboard describes a measure differently from the file documentation, keep that discrepancy visible rather than assuming the two values are directly comparable.
Check dates and refresh timing
Record when the dashboard says it was updated and when the downloadable file was published or last modified, if those dates are available. A dashboard may refresh on a different schedule from a file, so numbers can differ without either format being erroneous. Note whether dates describe the event period, the reporting period, or the publication date. For example, a file released in May could contain records through March. Clear date labels prevent readers from treating a release date as the date the underlying activity occurred.
Inspect definitions and missingness
Look for definitions, filters, exclusions, and notes about missing or suppressed values. A dashboard may apply a filter by default that is not carried into a raw download. The file may use codes that require a data dictionary. Check whether totals include all categories, whether blank values represent unknown information, and whether small counts are treated differently. Do not compare figures until you understand these choices well enough to describe them. If documentation is absent, mark the comparison as unresolved.
State a limited conclusion
Summarize what matches, what differs, and what remains uncertain. For example, say that the dashboard and file show the same reporting period but use different category labels, so a direct category comparison needs clarification. Avoid claiming that one format is more accurate unless there is evidence for that judgment. Keep the versions, documentation, and date of review with your notes. A careful comparison can identify a useful follow-up question, such as asking the data owner which definition governs a particular total.
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