Dance Mapping - Arts Council England

General data reliability
Throughout the programme, the researchers were largely reliant on other people’s data and
this may not be as robust as direct data gathering. For example, research such as the Arts
and Business Private Investment Surveys rely on voluntary submissions and the reliability of
the data therefore depends on the validity of the received responses.
Surveys
Although online surveys were chosen as a means of reaching as many people as possible
through a snowball effect, clearly that data is affected by those who ultimately completed
surveys.
The data may also be skewed by a number of factors including the fact that:
• some membership agencies forwarded links to members whilst others did not, which
may mean that the workforce survey is skewed
• there was a low response from local authorities to the survey, which may limit the
reliability of the data and allow only tentative conclusions to be drawn from it through
triangulation with other data.
3. Conclusions
Despite the above limitations, many of which are found within any research programme,
every effort has been made to ensure that the data presented and the analysis carried out
have been robust and rigorous and that the picture presented in this report is as far as
possible a clear and representative snapshot of the dance field in mid 2009.
There is now a unique opportunity for the dance field to take ownership of the data and use it
to make a stronger and more informed case for the future development of dance in England.
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