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A to Z

An A to Z of concepts we refer to when measuring content performance at DBT.

How to use the A to Z

The A to Z lists terms alphabetically. Where letters are missing, we’ve not defined a term that starts with that letter, yet.

This is a long page. To skip to a letter, append # and the letter to the URL in the address bar in your browser.


B

Balancing measure

A unit of measurement that functions as part of a hypothesis to look for evidence of a risk in a particular data source or observable event.

C

Concept

An abstract idea that serves as a foundation for more concrete principles and knowledge.

Content format

Determines the means by which content is consumed by its users, and influences the devices and software through which it is available.

Content item

Any digital content that is provided to audiences. Usually based on a content type.

Content type

A managed, reusable structure for creating and delivering content for a specific purpose. Not to be confused with content format.

D

Data source

A place where data comes from. Internal (for example, the data we gather in services) and external (for example, website performance data from Google Analytics).

Dimension

An attribute of your data in Google Analytics. Described as text, not numbers.

G

Google Analytics

A data source that collects data on the usage of digital products and services.

H

Hypothesis

An information pattern that documents the design process for a given solution.

M

Measure

A single data point that represents the status of something at a certain point in time.

Measurement plan

We create a measurement plan to set out how we’ll measure something, to see if it’s working.

Metric

A quantitative measurement that represents that status of something that cannot be easily observed.

O

Outcome

Something that happens as a result of the work we do in government. Can be high-level strategic or policy outcomes, or lower-level events that help to achieve them. Best when they can be clearly articulated and measured, as part of a hypothesis.

P

Performance measure

A unit of measurement that functions as part of a hypothesis to look for evidence of an outcome in a particular data source or observable event.

Performance measurement framework

A blueprint that defines how goals, actions and measurement are organised and interact within a business area.