In December 2008 the European Parliament and the Council adopted a framework regulation for statistics concerning public health and health and safety at work. The magnitude of data collected this far is enormous, however none of the available databases—WHO, Health-EU or Eurostat, provides a usable interface that allows users to generate customized and easy to interpret health statistics. Additionally, it is virtually impossible to demonstrate the relationship between health topics and social or environmental factors to help contextualize data and substantiate correlation or prove causation. This case study, drawn from direct professional experience, illustrates how correlation is discernible and actionable. And how employing taxonomies and metadata to improve navigation, browsing, search and discovery results in understanding and augmented awareness. The California Health Interview Survey and its online statistical analysis query tool, AskCHIS, have managed to bridge the gap between the collection of large amounts of health and socioeconomic indicators and its meaningful visualization. The query tool, with its simple and intuitive interface, has effectively become a benchmark for health data statistical analysis tools that are usable across a variety of backgrounds and skills. A rigorous taxonomy of variables, questionnaires and data dictionaries entries, in addition to meaningful metadata give the users the option to browse the full hierarchy of terms and categories or use keyword and phrases search. Supporting documentation—in the form of methodology papers, survey topics, questionnaires and data dictionaries, helps to contextualize research. Talk presented at EuroIA in Edinburgh, Scotland on 9/28/2013.

1. TAXONOMIES AND MEANINGFUL METADATA TO CRACK THE CIPHER AND TELL THE STORY
alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
EuroIA | Edinburgh, 26-28 September 2013
THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA
CC
Image
courtesy
of
Falco500
on
flickr.com

2. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
CC
Image
courtesy
of
prayitnophotography
on
flickr.com

3. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
CC
Image
courtesy
of
jczart
on
flickr.com

4. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
Health data provide information about the occurrence of
certain diseases and health conditions.
—http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/public_health_tracking/about/glossary.htm
HEALTH DATA

5. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
A massive volume of both structured and unstructured data
that is so large that it's difficult to process using
traditional database and software techniques.
—http://www.webopedia.com
BIG DATA

6. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla

7. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla

8. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
825,300,000

9. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
BIG IMPACT

10. STORYTELLING WITH DATA
CC
Image
courtesy
of
clappstar
on
flickr.com

11. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
THE STORY

12. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
THE STORY

13. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
EUROSTAT

14. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
EUROSTAT

15. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
WHO

16. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
ESS

17. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
ESS

18. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
ESS

19. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
ESS

20. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
ESS

21. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
ESS

22. THE AskCHIS WAY

23. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
AskCHIS

24. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
AskCHIS

25. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
AskCHIS

26. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
AskCHIS

27. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
AskCHIS

28. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
AskCHIS

29. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
AskCHIS

30. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
EFFECT = AFFECT

31. HOW DID WE DO IT?

32. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
TAXONOMY

33. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
TAXONOMY

34. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
TERMINOLOGY
OPTIONS CHOICE
Benefit Package, Work Insurance,
Employee Insurance, Employee
Health Plan
Employment-based coverage
Poor, Indigent, Impoverished,
Below Federal Poverty Line
Low-income
Handicapped, Disabled, Blinds,
Deaf Persons,
Persons with disabilities

35. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
SYNONYMS/POLYHIERARCHY
MANAGED CARE DISABILITY
= =
Medicare, Health Insurance,
Comprehensive Medical Insurance,
Group Medical Insurance, Health
Plan, Medicaid, Medi-cal, Indian
Health Services, Healthy Families
Handicap, Deficit, Impairment,
Mental Impairment, Physical
Impairment, Health Problem,
Functional Impairment, Incapacity,
Ailment

36. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
METADATA

37. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
METADATA

38. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
METADATA

39. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
METADATA

40. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
CONTENT MODEL

41. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
STRUCTURED CONTENT

42. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
STRUCTURED CONTENT
Variable Label
CHIS Data Source(s)
Age Groups
Levels
Description
Restrictions
Year

43. WHERE WE ARE GOING

44. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
CONCRETELY
WHAT (DELIVERABLES) HOW (USES) WHY (GOALS)
• Sitemap
• Content Inventory
• Wireframes
• Controlled
Vocabulary
• Tags
• Categories
• Filters
• URLs
• Glossary
• Navigation
• Content strategy
• Findability
• Organization
• Cross-channel
Consistency
• Governance
• Understanding
• Branding

45. CHPR CHIS
SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
MORE (RE)SEARCH

46. CHPR AskCHIS
SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
CONNECTIONS

47. CHPR AskCHIS
SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
CONNECTIONS

48. CHPR AskCHIS
SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
CONNECTIONS

49. CHPR AskCHIS
SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
CONNECTIONS

50. CHPR AskCHIS
SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
CONNECTIONS

51. CHPR AskCHIS
SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
CONNECTIONS

52. CHPR AskCHIS
SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
CONNECTIONS

53. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
PRIORITIZE CONTENT

54. NEWSLETTER
SIGNUP
GLOBAL NAVIGATION AND SERVICE LINKS SEARCH
LOGO AND SLOGAN
MAIN NAVIGATION
CAROUSEL PHOTO
FEATURED PRODUCT 1
(3 WORDS MAX)
FEATURED PRODUCT 2
(3 WORDS MAX)
PUB SEARCH
SLIDE TITLE (10 WORDS MAX)
SLIDE TEASER (50 WORDS MAX)
ASK THE EXPERT
(100 WORDS MAX)
TOPIC CENTER
(10 LINKS x 4 WORDS MAX)
HEALTH CARE REFORM
(100 WORDS MAX)
SPOTLIGHT
(100 WORDS MAX)
PROGRAM 1
(50 WORDS MAX)
PROGRAM 2
(50 WORDS MAX)
PROGRAM 2
(50 WORDS MAX)
NEWS
(5 LINKS x 10 WORDS MAX)
SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
PRIORITIZE CONTENT

55. NEWSLETTER
SIGNUP
GLOBAL NAVIGATION AND SERVICE LINKS SEARCH
LOGO AND SLOGAN
MAIN NAVIGATION
CAROUSEL PHOTO
FEATURED PRODUCT 1
(3 WORDS MAX)
FEATURED PRODUCT 2
(3 WORDS MAX)
PUB SEARCH
SLIDE TITLE (10 WORDS MAX)
SLIDE TEASER (50 WORDS MAX)
ASK THE EXPERT
(100 WORDS MAX)
TOPIC CENTER
(10 LINKS x 4 WORDS MAX)
HEALTH CARE REFORM
(100 WORDS MAX)
SPOTLIGHT
(100 WORDS MAX)
PROGRAM 1
(50 WORDS MAX)
PROGRAM 2
(50 WORDS MAX)
PROGRAM 2
(50 WORDS MAX)
NEWS
(5 LINKS x 10 WORDS MAX)
SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
PRIORITIZE CONTENT

56. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
NEWSLETTER
SIGNUP
GLOBAL NAVIGATION AND SERVICE LINKS SEARCH
CAROUSEL PHOTO
FEATURED PRODUCT 1
(3 WORDS MAX)
FEATURED PRODUCT 2
(3 WORDS MAX)
PUB SEARCH
SLIDE TITLE (10 WORDS MAX)
SLIDE TEASER (50 WORDS MAX)
TOPIC CENTER
(10 LINKS x 4 WORDS MAX)
NEWS
(5 LINKS x 10 WORDS MAX)
CONTENT PRIORITY = FLEXIBILITY
NAV SEARCH (SITE AND PUBS)
SLIDE TEASER SHORT
(10 WORDS MAX)
FEATURED PRODUCT 1
(3 WORDS MAX)
TOPIC CENTER
(5 LINKS x 4 WORDS
MAX)
NEWS
(5 LINKS x 10
WORDS MAX)
CAROUSEL
PHOTO
THUMB
FEATURED PRODUCT 2
(3 WORDS MAX)

57. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
NEWSLETTER
SIGNUP
GLOBAL NAVIGATION AND SERVICE LINKS SEARCH
CAROUSEL PHOTO
FEATURED PRODUCT 1
(3 WORDS MAX)
FEATURED PRODUCT 2
(3 WORDS MAX)
PUB SEARCH
SLIDE TITLE (10 WORDS MAX)
SLIDE TEASER (50 WORDS MAX)
TOPIC CENTER
(10 LINKS x 4 WORDS MAX)
NEWS
(5 LINKS x 10 WORDS MAX)
CONTENT PRIORITY = FLEXIBILITY
NAV SEARCH (SITE AND PUBS)
SLIDE TEASER SHORT
(10 WORDS MAX)
FEATURED PRODUCT 1
(3 WORDS MAX)
TOPIC CENTER
(5 LINKS x 4 WORDS
MAX)
NEWS
(5 LINKS x 10
WORDS MAX)
CAROUSEL
PHOTO
THUMB
FEATURED PRODUCT 2
(3 WORDS MAX)

58. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
NEWSLETTER
SIGNUP
GLOBAL NAVIGATION AND SERVICE LINKS SEARCH
CAROUSEL PHOTO
FEATURED PRODUCT 1
(3 WORDS MAX)
FEATURED PRODUCT 2
(3 WORDS MAX)
PUB SEARCH
SLIDE TITLE (10 WORDS MAX)
SLIDE TEASER (50 WORDS MAX)
TOPIC CENTER
(10 LINKS x 4 WORDS MAX)
NEWS
(5 LINKS x 10 WORDS MAX)
CONTENT PRIORITY = FLEXIBILITY
NAV SEARCH (SITE AND PUBS)
SLIDE TEASER SHORT
(10 WORDS MAX)
FEATURED PRODUCT 1
(3 WORDS MAX)
TOPIC CENTER
(5 LINKS x 4 WORDS
MAX)
NEWS
(5 LINKS x 10
WORDS MAX)
CAROUSEL
PHOTO
THUMB
FEATURED PRODUCT 2
(3 WORDS MAX)

59. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
NEWSLETTER
SIGNUP
GLOBAL NAVIGATION AND SERVICE LINKS SEARCH
CAROUSEL PHOTO
FEATURED PRODUCT 1
(3 WORDS MAX)
FEATURED PRODUCT 2
(3 WORDS MAX)
PUB SEARCH
SLIDE TITLE (10 WORDS MAX)
SLIDE TEASER (50 WORDS MAX)
TOPIC CENTER
(10 LINKS x 4 WORDS MAX)
NEWS
(5 LINKS x 10 WORDS MAX)
CONTENT PRIORITY = FLEXIBILITY
NAV SEARCH (SITE AND PUBS)
SLIDE TEASER SHORT
(10 WORDS MAX)
FEATURED PRODUCT 1
(3 WORDS MAX)
TOPIC CENTER
(5 LINKS x 4 WORDS
MAX)
NEWS
(5 LINKS x 10
WORDS MAX)
CAROUSEL
PHOTO
THUMB
FEATURED PRODUCT 2
(3 WORDS MAX)

60. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
DESIGN

61. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
DESIGN

62. SECRET LANGUAGE OF DATA alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
DESIGN

63. alberta soranzo | @albertatrebla
albertasoranzo@gmail.com
UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
THANK YOU!