Good data

Overview

• What is Good Data?

  Good Data is information that is:

  • Collected for a clear purpose: we only gather what we need to answer important public‑interest questions.
  • Connected: different datasets are linked so we see the full picture of people, places, and programs.
  • Easy to understand: organised so anyone can spot what’s happening, why it’s happening, and who is affected.
  • Respectful and secure: protected by strong privacy rules and mindful of Indigenous data sovereignty.

  

• Why it matters

  When government has access to good data, it can:

  • Respond to crises quickly producing insights within weeks, not months.
  • Make smarter choices by weighing costs and benefits instead of guessing.
  • Challenge old assumptions by bringing new insight to entrenched problems.
  • Apply support where it's needed most by understanding who's helped and who's being missed.
  • Fix problems early by spotting shifts in public needs in near real-time.
  • Earn public trust by being open about what we measure and how it shapes decisions.

• What we do

  We use a range of approaches to generate timely, customized, high-quality data and insights on how Canadians respond to policies, programs, and real-world challenges. Our work helps decision-makers act more quickly, more effectively, and with greater confidence.

  

  Data integration

  Build the best picture with what you have. We integrate and link data from across government to:

  • Complement existing holdings with up-to-date, high-quality data
  • See across silos—connecting people, programs, and outcomes
  • Make insights easier to uncover, use, and share across government

  

  Segmentation

  Get sharper nuance on how Canadians behave. There is no average Canadian. We use data-driven segmentation to: 

  • Understand the diversity of Canadian attitudes and behaviours on key issues
  • Anticipate how different groups might respond to new policies or services
  • Help government tailor and target programs to meet the population’s varied needs

  

  Policy trade-offs

  Understand where Canadians want us to focus. Governments must make hard choices—especially when resources are tight.

  • Reveal what matters most to Canadians right now
  • Understand what people are willing to prioritize when options are limited
  • Support decision-making in fast-changing environments

  

  Discrete Choice Experiments

  Learn how Canadians want specific programs delivered. When preferences aren’t obvious, we simulate real-world decisions to:

  • Quantify what people value in a service or policy
  • Fill gaps where real-world data don’t yet exist
  • Explore how Canadians weigh competing options

  

  A/B Testing

  Refine the details for impact. 
We run multi-arm A/B tests (rapid randomized trials) to:

  • Compare multiple solutions to policy or service challenges
  • Identify what works best, for whom, and under what conditions
  • Produce fast, actionable evidence—especially when only one solution can move forward

  

  Field Trials

  Prove it works in the real world. 
Even great ideas need testing on real-world conditions. We run randomized controlled field trials to: 

  • Measure the real-world impact of new tools, services, or policy approaches
  • Generate definitive data on what works, why, and at what cost
  • Deliver high-confidence insights before full-scale implementation

• How we work

  Our data collection and analysis efforts are customized to meet our partner's needs. Our approach is flexible and collaborative.

  • 

    1 Identify

    We begin by identifying our partner's informational and data needs - what decisions are they making and by when? What information might they need to inform these decisions?

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    2 Understand

    We work to understand the strengths, gaps, and limitations of existing data holdings, both internal and external to government, and how any existing data have been analyzed.

    This step is critical for ensuring any data collection and analyses we undertake are additive - that they make the best use of existing resources and produce something novel and valuable for our partners.

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    3 Design

    Next we design our data collection and analysis plans - this includes development of study protocols, design of research instruments, and detailed analysis plans.

    We refine these plans with input from our partners to ensure they will produce high-quality data that will fit their needs.

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    4 Implement

    Once our plans are finalized, we go to field.

    We collect data quickly, and clean, code, and analyze them in an expert and rapid fashion.

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    5 Insight

    Finally, we produce results and insights.

    We share key findings through topline results, briefing decks, and briefing notes. Our products are clear, concise, compelling, and accessible. We also produce public-facing reports and post these to the Impact Canada website.