General Information About Restricted Data From ICPSR
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.
To facilitate research activities that cannot be effectively performed without access to data items that have been removed, masked, or collapsed in the public-use version of a data collection, ICPSR will (upon written request) provide a restricted use dataset to an individual researcher for a specific time period. Provision of such a dataset requires the fully-executed agreement described below.
Eligibility
Access to restricted datasets is limited to researchers who require the additional variables contained in the restricted use file and who agree to the terms and conditions contained in this Restricted Data Use Agreement. Furthermore, access to the restricted use dataset is limited to researchers employed by an organization possessing a current NIH Multiple Project Assurances (MPA) Certification Number (typically research-oriented universities). Access for individuals employed by organizations that do not have an MPA Certification Number may be obtained, however, upon the submission, review, and approval of the Application's Item #9 as well as the documents described in the following section.
University students may gain access to the restricted data, but a faculty advisor must serve as Restricted Data Investigator. The faculty advisor and institution bear full responsibility for ensuring that all conditions of the agreement are met by the student, who must sign the Supplemental Agreement With Research Staff form.
Applying for Use of Restricted Data
Applicants must submit the following items to ICPSR:
Current CVs of all researchers who will be working on the project. CVs of support staff (e.g., research assistants, programmers) are not required.
A detailed Data Protection Plan (see instructions)
A completed and original signature copy of the Restricted Data Use Agreement for each organization involved in the proposed project
A completed and original signature copy of the Supplemental Agreement with Research Staff for each member of the research team other than the Restricted Data Investigator who will have access to the data, including Co-Principal Investigators, if any.
This Restricted Data Use Agreement is a legal document between the researcher, her/his employer, and ICPSR. Changes in the employment status of the researcher require the completion of a new Restricted Data Use Agreement.
ICPSR will have full discretion in deciding whether the applicant meets eligibility criteria and whether the Data Protection Plan is adequate. ICPSR may request additional information from applicants or request changes to the Data Protection Plan. If ICPSR decides all requirements are met, a representative from ICPSR will sign the Restricted Data Use Agreement and return a copy of the fully executed agreement to the applicant along with a copy of the data.
If during the course of the research project, new staff are added who will have access to the data, signed copies of the Supplemental Agreement must be sent to ICPSR. Access to the data cannot be provided to these staff members until the Supplemental Agreements are signed by an ICPSR representative and returned to the Restricted Data Investigator.
Research Teams Consisting of Persons Employed at Different Organizations
Because the researcher and her/his employer are both parties to this Restricted Data Use Agreement, multiple Agreements must be executed when members of a research team with access to the restricted data are employed by different organizations. A separate Agreement must be executed with each organization involved in the project. For instance, when researchers employed at different universities collaborate on the research project, a Restricted Data Investigator must be designated at each university and each university must execute its own Agreement. When a researcher contracts with a firm to perform programming services using the restricted data, both the researcher's organization and the firm performing the programming must have separate Agreements. (Self-employed persons with no institutional affiliation may not gain access to the restricted data.)
When the project involves multiple organizations, the Data Use Agreements for each organization must be submitted to ICPSR together in a single package. This package should include a cover letter identifying the single Principal Investigator who will serve as primary contact for the entire research team. This primary contact must serve as the Restricted Data Investigator (i.e., signatory to the agreement) in his or her employer's Agreement. Other organizations involved in the project should designate the most senior team member (i.e., the team member that holds the greatest authority over other team members from that organization) as their organization's Restricted Data Investigator.
Where to Submit Applications
All application materials described in the previous section, "Applying for Use of Restricted Data," should be mailed to:
ICPSR
Restricted Data Use Agreements
P.O. Box 1248
Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1248
Questions about this application for the use of restricted data may also be sent to the above address or forwarded via facsimile (734) 647-8200 or e-mail (netmail@icpsr.umich.edu).
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