Social Science Data Services
Finding and Managing Data for Research

Data Services > Restricted Data

See also: Responsible Use of Data.

Restricted Data

What is Restricted Data? | Access to ICPSR Restricted Data | Census Research Data Centers | COUHES | Nondisclosure Agreements

What is Restricted Data?

Data archives restrict access to certain data sets and variables in order to ensure confidentiality for study participants. Archives are concerned about respondent confidentiality with regard to either:

• direct identifiers: e.g. name or social security number
• indirect identifiers, items that could be used in conjunction with publicly-available information to identify individual respondents: e.g. detailed geographic information, occupation, or education

Data archives remove or mask direct and key indirect identifiers in the public-use versions of data files. However, some archives, such as ICPSR, may permit researchers to use restricted data files (containing select identifiers) under particular conditions.

Access to Restricted Data

ICPSR will consider applications from researchers who wish to utilize restricted data from the archive. See ICPSR's page on restricted data. This application must contain information such as:

• the name of the principal investigator (must be a faculty member, but students may sometimes have access to data as Research Staff under the agreement)
• a data protection plan created along with departmental technology staff
• confirmation of approval of the research project by the Committee on the Use of Humans as Experimental Subjects (COUHES)
• a data use agreement signed by an MIT authority; to request a data use agreement from MIT, apply at http://nda.mit.edu/. An MIT staff member will negotiate the agreement and obtain the necessary signature from an MIT official.

The application process may be similar in order to use restricted data from other archives. To request a data use agreement from MIT, apply at http://nda.mit.edu/.

Census Research Data Centers

In addition, researchers can apply for access to unpublished data from the Census Bureau's economic and demographic programs at either:

• Boston Census Research Data Center at the National Bureau of Economic Research; or
• Michigan Census Research Data Center, (note: fees waived for MIT affiliates as members of ICPSR).

Committee on the Use of Humans as Experimental Subjects (COUHES)

COUHES is the MIT office that reviews and approves research involving human subjects. COUHES should be consulted on any such research project utilizing confidential data.

Nondisclosure Agreements

If you are acquiring data for your research from a private company, you may be asked to sign a nondisclosure agreement, which outlines the rights of all parties. Any such agreement should be signed by either the MIT Office of the General Counsel or the Office of Sponsored Programs, who will work with you to ensure that the agreement complies with MIT policies and retains for your rights for academic freedom, so that you are free to publish your results.