Scientific inquiry is built on the ethos that the research process generates new knowledge and that human participants are protected and treated ethically. Social scientists routinely share anonymized datasets directly or through an existing data repository to encourage transparency in science and scientific replication. Releasing finalized and anonymized datasets allow the scientific community to test additional hypotheses and develop new knowledge. Given the recent national attention to campus sexual assault and misconduct, examination through peer review and reproduction is critical. To inform a potential conflict in principles and inform decision-making on data sharing, we used a reverse engineering process to assess the potential for re-identifying study participants in a campus climate survey dataset focused on sexual assault and misconduct. The current study used data collected from the Cultivating Learning and Safe Environments in which 28,270 undergraduate and graduate students participated in an online survey and answered queries about experiences with sexual harassment, stalking, dating/domestic abuse and violence, and unwanted sexual contact. Our concern was that scientists or other members of the public with nefarious intent or compromised ethical standards might seek to expose individual participants and their survey responses. Our presentation will discuss our two-step methodology, findings, and recommendations.
Short summary: social scientists must collect information on participants’ demographics in social science research and evaluation to (a) understand the extent to which a sample or incomplete census reflects a larger population and (b) understand the diversity of experience and perception across marginalized and intersectional identities. This study illustrates, however, that this vital information could potentially be used to identify participants by someone with antisocial intentions and a lack of ethical research practices. This threat is compounded in surveys that include assessment of trauma, abuse, violence, or other sensitive, personal, and politicized topics.
Noёl Busch-Armendariz is the University Presidential Professor and Director at The University of Texas at Austin. She holds appointments at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work and the Dell Medical School. She was the principal investigator of the seven-year, $4.7 million Cultivating Learning and Safe Environments (CLASE) project investigating sexual assault and misconduct across 14 University of Texas System campuses. She is the first author of the award-winning textbook Human Trafficking: Applying Research, Theory, and Case Studies. During her IASH Fellowship, she works with the University of Edinburgh staff to address campus misconduct issues.
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