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UK release practices for official microdata

Ritchie, Felix

Authors



Abstract

This paper describes the principles and practices by which microdata collected by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is made available to researchers. Access to detailed confidential microdata, often from official sources, is acknowledged to be one of the great unrealised opportunities constraining the development of much academic and policy research. Recent developments across the world have improved access for some countries considerably, but progress is still patchy. Some of this delay is due to fear of the new; concerns over risk; worries over cost or feasibility; or just simply how to choose between a myriad of different solutions. This paper considers the development of access to confidential microdata using the UK as an example. The UK Office for National Statistics has developed a coherent framework for providing data: everything from internet access to secure labs can be considered within the same framework. The aim is to achieve a balance of cost, access and detail through a finite set of options, enabling both flexibility and economies of scale. A central role is played by the ONS' remote access facility, a secure thin-client desktop. This paper considers the problems that arose during the development and operation of the facility, current concerns, and challenges it will face in the future. © 2009/2010 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.

Citation

Ritchie, F. (2009). UK release practices for official microdata. Statistical Journal of the IAOS, 26(3-4), 103-111. https://doi.org/10.3233/SJI-2009-0706

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Dec 1, 2009
Journal Statistical Journal of the IAOS
Print ISSN 1874-7655
Publisher IOS Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 26
Issue 3-4
Pages 103-111
DOI https://doi.org/10.3233/SJI-2009-0706
Keywords microdata, ONS, virtual microdata laboratory, UK
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/978816
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/SJI-2009-0706