[open-government] Pew: Americans’ Views on Open Government Data #opengov #opendata - Only 5% say very effective!

[Steven Clift]

Important survey just released:

      http://bit.ly/pewopengov

Discuss here:
       https://www.facebook.com/groups/opengovgroup/permalink/1625987174299539/



Pew Research Center: Americans’ Views on Open Government Data

The survey ... "captures public views at the emergent moment when new
technology tools and techniques are being used to disseminate and
capitalize on government data and specifically looks at:

* People’s level of awareness of government efforts to share data

* Whether these efforts translate into people using data to track
government performance

* If people think government data initiatives have made, or have the
potential to make, government perform better or improve accountability

* The more routine kinds of government-citizen online interactions,
such as renewing licenses or searching for the hours of public
facilities."

...

The top line numbers:

"Few Americans think governments are very effective in sharing data
they collect with the public:

* Just 5% say the federal government does this very effectively, with
another 39% saying the federal government does this somewhat
effectively.

* 5% say state governments share data very effectively, with another
44% saying somewhat effectively.

* 7% say local governments share data very effectively, with another
45% responding somewhat effectively.

Somewhat larger numbers could think of examples in which their local
government either did or did not do a good job providing information
to the public:

* 19% of all Americans could think of an example where the local
government did a good job providing information to the public about
data it collects.

* 19% could think of an example where local government did not provide
enough useful information about data and information to the public.

Relatively few Americans reported using government data sources for
monitoring what is going on:

* 20% have used government sources to find information about student
or teacher performance.

* 17% have used government sources to look for information on the
performance of hospitals or health care providers.

* 7% have used government sources to find out about contracts between
government agencies and outside firms."

...

I have lots to say about this ... another time:
     https://www.facebook.com/groups/opengovgroup/permalink/1625987174299539/

The missing question if we want to build public trust in government in
my view is whether the public would like government to provide secure
individual online access to private and public government data held
about you. Estonia does this, so can the rest of the world.


Steven Clift  -  Executive Director, E-Democracy.org
   clift at e-democracy.org  -  +1.612.234.7072
   @democracy  -  http://linkedin.com/in/netclift

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