Social Science Data Services
Finding and Managing Data for Research

Data Services > Responsible Use of Data

See also: Restricted Data.

Responsible Use of Data

Most social science data sets are generated as a result of confidential research on individuals or organizations. Therefore, users of social science data files must be conscientious to use the material responsibly.

When conducting research using data sets, it is important to abide by the following principles:

• Use data for statistical analysis and reporting of aggregated information only, and not for investigation of specific individuals or organizations.
• Make no use of the identity of any person or establishment discovered inadvertently.
• Produce no links among datasets that could identify individuals or organizations.
• Do not redistribute the data to anyone other than current students, faculty,or staff of MIT.
• Only use the data for non-profit, scholarly research and instructional purposes.
• Cite the data appropriately in your publications.

Note: individual data files and archives may have their own terms of use; consult the information in the codebook or in the study record. For example, before using ICPSR data, it is important to read through and agree to their Responsible Use Statement.

In addition, if you make use of any confidential data in your research, you should contact COUHES (Committee on the Use of Humans as Experimental Subjects), the MIT office that reviews and approves research involving human subjects. See also our page on the use of restricted data.