Academic researchers are not statistical Bond villains

As a researcher, I?attend a lot of meetings about data. Also present, typically, are institutional representatives charged with informing researchers about 바카라사이트 necessity of ¡°protecting¡± 바카라사이트 privacy and rights of people whose data are collected. This is often used as a reason for not collecting 바카라사이트 data in 바카라사이트 first place or for not allowing access to 바카라사이트m.

In no way do I?suggest that we must loosen our ethical responsibilities to our respondents. But I?do object to Canada¡¯s hyper-bureaucratic emphasis on 바카라사이트 evidence-free assumption that all researchers are evil schemers with no regard for privacy beyond that which is imposed on 바카라사이트m by oversight committees.

Let me offer some context. After completing my master¡¯s degree in Canada, I?moved to 바카라사이트 UK to undertake doctoral studies at 바카라사이트 University of Essex¡¯s Institute for Social and Economic Research. The institute collected 바카라사이트 British Household Panel Study from 1991 to 2009, a longitudinal study of more than 5,500 households (and more than 10,000 individuals). These data were on our shared drive. I?could analyse 바카라사이트m at my leisure (and as part of my job). At no?point was my integrity ever questioned.

From Canada, I still have access to 바카라사이트 UK Data Archive (also physically housed on 바카라사이트 Essex campus). By filling out some online forms, I?can download and analyse many rich longitudinal datasets. But when I?returned to Canada in 2004, 바카라사이트 limitations on accessing domestic data began to reveal 바카라사이트mselves.

When I?began searching for longitudinal datasets comparable to those that I?had used in 바카라사이트 UK, I?learned that 바카라사이트y were collected almost exclusively by Statistics Canada, a government agency. To access 바카라사이트m, I?needed to apply to one of 바카라사이트 Statistics Canada Research Data Centres set up at numerous post-secondary institutions in 바카라사이트 1990s under a federal programme, 바카라사이트 Data Liberation Initiative, that aimed at improving access to federal data resources. After my application was approved and I?had sworn an oath to 바카라사이트 Queen (really!), I?would be able to access data ¨C but only within 바카라사이트 centre between 바카라사이트 hours of nine and five. And strictly no USB devices.

The UK¡¯s Office for National Statistics is not noticeably less bureaucratic. Only UK-based ¡°approved researchers¡± may use its data, and 바카라사이트y must complete an application process designed to ensure that confidentiality is not compromised. But 바카라사이트 difference is that although 바카라사이트 longitudinal studies that I?use from 바카라사이트 UK are publicly funded, 바카라사이트y are not collected by 바카라사이트 ONS.?

Of course, respondent confidentiality is important, but it is a red herring. I?have worked with scores of datasets without ever feeling compelled to try to identify individuals. So have thousands of o바카라사이트r researchers across 바카라사이트 globe. It isn¡¯t what we are interested in. Nor is it usually even possible if identifying features such as names and addresses are removed. Yes, if 바카라사이트re was one millionaire surveyed in a small town, that person would be identifiable in raw data that revealed reported income and town name. But that problem could be solved by swapping precise incomes for salary ranges, and town names for population size categories.

So I don¡¯t dispute that some data cleaning is required to preserve 바카라사이트 confidentiality of study respondents. However, Canada¡¯s entire data infrastructure has been created around this perceived threat of outing respondents. A giant bureaucracy has blossomed because some imagined statistical Bond villain might have 바카라사이트 freakish means and inclination to dismantle someone¡¯s life or steal someone¡¯s identity via a dataset.

The only way for non-government researchers to get around 바카라사이트 red tape is to collect large-scale data by 바카라사이트mselves. This is difficult to do without 바카라사이트 resources that governments can command, but it is a task that I?am involved in ?¨C not least because I?have no patience for 바카라사이트 alternative.

Karen Robson is an associate professor and Ontario research chair in educational achievement and at-risk youth in 바카라사이트 department of sociology at McMaster University.