Self-reported data

[wfdd]

On the about page as one of the shortcomings of the IPU data is listed that they are self-reported. What is meant by this?

[tmtmtmtm]

AIUI, the member countries simply submit a report that say (for example) "Our breakdown is currently 53 men and 24 women", with very little checking if those numbers are actually correct or up-to-date etc.

But looking at http://www.gender-balance.org/about again, the much more important shortcoming of the IPU data that we don't currently emphasise is that it only includes totals like this, and thus isn't useful at a more fine-grained level: e.g. for seeing if attendance or voting records differ by gender, or even to see what the gender breakdown of the various parties/factions etc are. (ping @davewhiteland and @MyfanwyNixon)

[wfdd]

Okay, we could say the information is unreviewed or unverified or something along those lines; 'self-reported' is an unfortunate choice of word....s.

the much more important shortcoming of the IPU data ...

That was added in #325 but the site's not been redeployed yet, by the look of it.