How to anonymise qualitative and quantitative data

The past two years has seen a huge change in expectations for researchers in how they manage and share participants’ information. There are new legal obligations, such as the GDPR, as well as a greater emphasis in sharing data after the completion of a research project. The process of anonymisation is an essential part to protect the identities of research participants while complying with these ethical and legal standards. Before sharing, archiving, or publishing data, you should ensure that all identifying and disclosive information is managed appropriately and redacted when necessary.

Join us as we critically discuss what is meant by “disclosive data” and strategies for anonymising quantitative and qualitative data. We will look specifically at key differences between anonymisation and pseudonymisation and discuss how to responsibly use and share data using a three-prong strategy for protecting participants’ identities. In this interactive workshop, you will have an opportunity to develop an anonymisation plan, test your knowledge on legal and ethical obligations, and discuss how to strike a balance between anonymisation (or pseudonymisation), access regulation, and consent.

This free workshop will consist of a 90-minute session, including presentations, exercises and questions.

Presenters: Anca Vlad and Maureen Haaker

Audience: This workshop is intended for anyone who wants to learn about data anonymisation. No preparation is necessary, however basic knowledge of research methods is assumed.

This event is part of our UK Data Service introductory training series: Autumn 2021.