Who's getting it done on open data?
Connecting state and local government leaders
According to a new Pew Research Center survey, open data underwhelms most Americans across the board. But local and state governments get higher marks than the feds.
While open data efforts are lauded by government officials, a recent study discovered that most Americans are unaware or underwhelmed. Pew Research Center surveyed 3,212 citizens late last year to gauge their thoughts on the programs' efficacy.
Across all levels -- federal, state and local -- respondents were divided on how well they thought government shares data, with about 80 percent expressing lukewarm opinions of "somewhat effectively" and "not very effectively."
How effectively does the federal government share the data it collects with the general public?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Very effectively | 5% |
| Somewhat effectively | 39% |
| Not very effectively | 39% |
| Not at all effectively | 15% |
| No answer | 1% |
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Local government got a better response, with 52 percent positive feedback. States followed with 49 positive feedback and the federal government trailed behind with 44 percent positive feedback on its data sharing efficacy.
Despite the fact that federal resources were perceived as the least effectively shared, more than 32 percent of respondents reported using either the Internet or an app to access information and data provided or enabled by government:
Percent of those who indicated having used government data by category of application
Moreover, the study found that governments have not been as successful in getting citizens to use online services as opposed to similar offline services, with the most frequent online use of government information being searching for government operated recreation facilities.
And while a slight majority of respondents believed greater transparency and data sharing will assist journalists, make officials more accountable and improve decision-making within government, they were uncertain whether open data efforts would improve the quality of government services and allow citizens to have more impact in public affairs.
Nevertheless, 50 percent of respondents believed open data had some role to play in the creation of new products and services in the private sector.
How much, if at all, do you think the data the government provides to the general public helps businesses create new products and services?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| A Lot | 9% |
| Somewhat | 41% |
| Not much | 27% |
| Not at all | 7% |
| Don't know | 15% |
| No answer | 1% |
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