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The Case for Samples of Anonymized Records from the 1991 Census

Author

Listed:
  • Catherine Marsh
  • Chris Skinner
  • Sara Arber
  • Bruce Penhale
  • Stan Openshaw
  • John Hobcraft
  • Denise Lievesley
  • Nigel Walford

Abstract

The census of population represents a rich source of social data. Other countries have released samples of anonymized records from their censuses to the research community for secondary analysis. So far this has not been done in Britain. The areas of research which might be expected to benefit from such microdata are outlined, and support is drawn from considering experience overseas. However, it is essential to protect the confidentiality of the data. The paper therefore considers the risks, both real and perceived, of identification of individuals from census microdata. The conclusion of the paper is that the potential benefits from census microdata are large and that the risks in terms of disclosure are very small. The authors therefore argue that the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and the General Register Office of Scotland should release samples of anonymized records from the 1991 census for secondary analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Catherine Marsh & Chris Skinner & Sara Arber & Bruce Penhale & Stan Openshaw & John Hobcraft & Denise Lievesley & Nigel Walford, 1991. "The Case for Samples of Anonymized Records from the 1991 Census," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 154(2), pages 305-340, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jorssa:v:154:y:1991:i:2:p:305-340
    DOI: 10.2307/2983043
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. C. J. Skinner, 2007. "The probability of identification: applying ideas from forensic statistics to disclosure risk assessment," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 170(1), pages 195-212, January.
    2. D Martin & M L Senior & H C W L Williams, 1994. "On Measures of Deprivation and the Spatial Allocation of Resources for Primary Health Care," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 26(12), pages 1911-1929, December.
    3. Bender, Stefan & Hilzendegen, Jürgen, 1995. "Die IAB-Beschäftigtenstrichprobe als scientific use file," Mitteilungen aus der Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 28(1), pages 76-95.
    4. Walter Mãœller & Uwe Blien & Heike Wirth, 1995. "Identification Risks of Microdata," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 24(2), pages 131-157, November.
    5. Bender, Stefan & Hilzendegen, Jürgen, 1995. "Die IAB-Beschäftigtenstrichprobe als scientific use file," Mitteilungen aus der Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 28(1), pages 76-95.
    6. Bender, Stefan & Hilzendegen, Jürgen, 1995. "Die IAB-Beschäftigtenstrichprobe als scientific use file," Mitteilungen aus der Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 28(1), pages 76-95.
    7. C. J. Skinner & M. J. Elliot, 2002. "A measure of disclosure risk for microdata," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series B, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 64(4), pages 855-867, October.
    8. Skinner, Chris J., 2007. "The probability of identification: applying ideas from forensic statistics to disclosure risk assessment," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 39105, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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