Responsible Use of Data
Maintaining Confidentiality
Many of the data used in secondary research are collected by surveying, interviewing, observing, and/or reviewing records of human subjects. It is standard practice for data providers to require that data users abide by some form of the general restrictions listed below in order to use their data. Please make every effort to use secondary data with respect for the individuals who provided it. Consult the codebook(s), website, or other documentation that accompanies the data to determine specifically what the data producer/distributor requires. Generally requirements include:
- 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 data from one source with individually identifiable data from other datasets.
Restricted Use
Use of some datasets acquired by the University Libraries is restricted to faculty, staff, and students affiliated with the Knoxville campus of University of Tennessee. It is not permissible to share these datasets in any way with other non-authorized persons.
Citing Data Sources
In the event that research using data resources is published in a book, article, conference paper, thesis, dissertation, report, or other publication, please properly cite the source of the data, including the principal investigator(s), data producer(s), and distributor, as appropriate. Consult the documentation for a recommended bibliographic citation.
Additionally, some investigators/producers/distributors like to receive copies of (or references to) publications based on their data. Again, consult the documentation for requirements.
Page last updated January 2, 2009.
Return to the Data Services home page
