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General Information on the Use of the ICPSR Data Enclave

ICPSR Bylaws state that "data and other material provided are to be used solely for statistical analysis and reporting of aggregated information, and not for investigation of specific individuals or organizations" and requires all users of its materials to give "assurance that such uses of statistical data will conform to widely-accepted standards of practice and legal restrictions that are intended to protect the confidentiality of research subjects." (ICPSR Bylaws, Article I, Section 2.C)

Each data collection in the ICPSR Archive has been examined to ensure that the contents of the collection do not violate explicit or implicit pledges of confidentiality given to respondents or research subjects. Data items that could be used to identify individual respondents are typically removed, masked, or collapsed in the public-use versions of the datasets prepared by ICPSR and released to the research community.

However, not all research questions can be addressed with public-use versions of data. Those versions may not have sufficient detail to adequately answer research questions or, due to the confidential nature of the data, there may not be a public-use version. The ICPSR Data Enclave will permit researchers access to data that are not available to the general public because of respondent confidentiality concerns, under circumstances that provide sufficient controls on the researchers' use of the data and sanctions for violation of respondent confidentiality so as to reasonably ensure the continued confidentiality of respondent identifying information.

The ICPSR Data Enclave is located at the ICPSR offices in the Perry Building, 330 Packard Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1248 and provides a secure environment in which researchers can access and analyze restricted data.

Application Procedure

Before a researcher applicant can be granted access to restricted data, a research proposal containing the information listed below must be submitted and approved.

• Cover letter
• Project title
• Abstract
• Researcher personal and affiliation information
• IRB approval from the sponsoring institution
• Current resume or vitae
• Dates of proposed use of the data enclave
• An estimation of the total hours expected to be working in the data enclave
• Funding source(s), if any, for user project
• A detailed summary of the proposed research including a description of why the publicly available files (provided they exist) are not adequate for the research plan
• A complete list of data enclave files being requested
• A description of user supplied data, if any, to be merged with restricted data including documentation, file layout, and number of records.
• A list of software requirements (application lists those routinely provided)
• A description of proposed analysis and expected analysis results, including a description of all information that is expected to be retained for subsequent use
• Description of intended use of research results, including plans for public dissemination
• A list of special needs requirements (if any)
• Two signed copies of the Confidentiality Agreement for Use of ICPSR Enclave Data

Data Enclave Use Policies

Application review process

The application review process consists of three steps. The application is initially reviewed by dedicated data enclave staff to ensure all requested information has been supplied. Staff assesses any data manipulation services requested and additional software needs, along with the proposed use dates for the data enclave. Once these are addressed, the application is forwarded to the ICPSR unit manager who is most familiar with the requested restricted data. The manager will recommend approval or rejection and the recommendations will be incorporated into the application. The application is then reviewed by a committee consisting of three faculty researchers who are knowledgeable about the proposed research and appointed by the ICPSR Director. The committee will review all aspects of the proposal and communicate directly with the researcher as needed. Once the application is approved, data enclave staff will contact the researcher. The entire review process is expected to take four to six weeks.

User charges

ICPSR's policy is not to charge for use of the data enclave, with one exception. If the researcher supplies data that must be merged with enclave data, ICPSR would assess a fee to recoup some of the cost of ICPSR staff time for this activity.

User-supplied data

When supplying his/her own data, the user must consult with enclave staff prior to using the data enclave to ensure that the user-supplied data can be merged with restricted data. The format must be consistent with that of the restricted data (ASCII files, not system files). The data must be supplied in advance of the visit and the merging completed prior to the researcher's use of the data enclave.

The user-supplied file, the merged file, and information used in linking it with the restricted data will be saved to removable media for the researcher for a period of two years solely to assist the user in recreating this information in the event it is lost or destroyed. These files will physically reside in the data enclave and may be destroyed prior to the two-year period to the extent permitted by law upon written request of the researcher or where ICPSR otherwise determines that destruction of the files is appropriate or necessary to ensure confidentiality or for other reasonable business purposes.

Role of the data enclave monitor

ICPSR must be concerned with maintaining physical security of the data enclave and with maintaining the confidentiality of respondents in the datasets being analyzed. The data enclave monitor will be present in the enclave at all times when the enclave is in use by a researcher. Researchers cannot bring any electronic devices including laptops or other portable computing devices into the data enclave. All materials brought in are subject to review by the monitor, and the decision of the monitor is final.

Disclosure review of output

Absolutely no papers, notes, printouts, computer media or other materials can leave the enclave without first being examined for disclosure risks. The researcher will work closely with a research associate to document the analyses performed and the location of work files on his/her designated directory. At a later time, all the analysis output will be reviewed by the applicable ICPSR unit manager for disclosure risks. Researchers can expect a recommendation on the release of their output within two to three weeks. Approved analysis output will be sent to the researcher on media supplied by ICPSR.

ICSPR will keep a copy of all output that has been reviewed for disclosure risk in a locked cabinet in the data enclave for a period of two years for the primary purpose of assisting the user in recreating this information in the event it is lost or destroyed. Output files may be destroyed prior to two years from initial creation to the extent permitted by law upon the written request of the researcher or where ICPSR otherwise determines that destruction of the files is appropriate or necessary to ensure confidentiality or for other reasonable business purposes.

The Secure Data Enclave Environment

The network in the data enclave is isolated from other networks which mean that the workstations do not have e-mail or Internet access. A unique password-protected profile is created for each data enclave user that allows the user to access the restricted data files specified in the application from these workstations. Access to the data enclave printer is restricted to the data enclave monitor.

Each workstation has a high speed Pentium computer with Windows XP, Microsoft Office Suite and SPSS, SAS and Stata statistical packages. All removable media access ports have been disabled.

Researchers cannot bring any electronic devices, including laptops or other portable computing devices into the data enclave. All materials brought in are subject to review by the data enclave monitor, and the decision of the monitor is final. Lockers are provided outside the enclave for secure storage of personal belongings.

Data enclave users will have access to a workstation outside the enclave for e-mail and telephone access. Typically, the enclave is open during normal business hours, i.e., Monday through Friday, 8:00 -6:00, although extended hours can be arranged in advance. No food or drink is allowed in the enclave.

Violation of Agreement

If ICPSR determines that any aspect of the Confidentiality Agreement for Use of ICPSR Data Enclave has been violated, ICPSR may invoke these sanctions as it deems appropriate:

• Denial of all future access to ICPSR Enclave Data

• Withholding of any output or related files not yet delivered to the Researcher

• Report of the violation to the Researcher's Institution's office responsible for scientific integrity and misconduct, with a request that the institution's sanctions for misconduct be imposed

• Report of the violation to appropriate federal and private agencies or foundations that fund scientific and public policy research, with a recommendation that all current research funds be terminated, and that future funding be denied to the Researcher and to all other persons involved in the violation

• Such other remedies that may be available to ICPSR under law or equity, including injunctive relief

Where to Submit Applications

All application materials for the use of the ICPSR Data Enclave should be mailed to:

ICPSR
Data Enclave Manager
P.O. Box 1248
Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1248

Questions about this application procedure may also be sent to the above address or forwarded via facsimile (734-647-8200) or email (netmail@icpsr.umich.edu).