Semi-Permeable Boundaries Among Institutions: Non-Public Data and the Census RDC at Berkeley IASSIST 2009 – Tampere, Finland Jon StilesMay 27, 2009

Three Questions What is an RDC? (and why does it exist?) What is an RDC? (and why does it exist?) Partners and Constituents Partners and Constituents Proposal process and environment Proposal process and environment

CCRDC California Census Research Data Center Berkeley The CCRDC is a joint project of the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the University of California Berkeley and UCLA to enable qualified researchers with approved projects to access confidential, unpublished Census Bureau data. There are nine RDCs in the U.S.: Berkeley, UCLA, Boston, Baruch, Cornell, Ann Arbor, Duke, Chicago, Washington, DC (plus Minnesota!) CCRDC on the web:

Why do RDC’s Exist? Tension between high quality data collection and distribution/use. Census Bureau and other federal agencies collect a huge amount of data, many items “sensitive”. To maintain high response rates, promises of confidentiality Data have diverse uses and users

How to reconcile tensions? Release of aggregate data (Summary data)

How to reconcile tensions? Release of aggregate data (Summary data) Release of microdata with masked geography, selected items, top-coded categories (PUMS)

How to reconcile tensions? Release of aggregate data (Summary data) Release of microdata with masked geography, selected items, top-coded categories (PUMS) Creation of synthetic data (LEHD)

How to reconcile tensions? Release of aggregate data (Summary data) Release of microdata with masked geography, selected items, top-coded categories (PUMS) Creation of synthetic data (LEHD) Controlled access with tight security and disclosure review (RDCs)

Purpose of Census Research Data Centers Protected Access to non-public use data for Researchers Protected Access to non-public use data for Researchers Secure facility Secure facility Presence of Census Bureau employee Presence of Census Bureau employee Disclosure Review Disclosure Review Benefits to Census Bureau Benefits to Census Bureau Necessary for access to Title 13 and Title 26 data Necessary for access to Title 13 and Title 26 data Not required for NCHS, AHRQ data if not linked to Title 13 data Not required for NCHS, AHRQ data if not linked to Title 13 data

Data at the RDC’s include Demographic Surveys and Censuses Demographic Surveys and Censuses Decennial Census Decennial Census American Community Survey American Community Survey CPS, SIPP, AHS, NLS, and more…. CPS, SIPP, AHS, NLS, and more…. Economic Surveys and Censuses Economic Surveys and Censuses Longitudinal Business Database Longitudinal Business Database Census of Manufactures, Services, Mining, Retail Trade, Wholesale Trade, Transportation, Communications and Utilities Census of Manufactures, Services, Mining, Retail Trade, Wholesale Trade, Transportation, Communications and Utilities Survey of Employers, Plant Capacity, Capital Expenditures, Pollution Abatement Costs, Energy Consumption, and more…. Survey of Employers, Plant Capacity, Capital Expenditures, Pollution Abatement Costs, Energy Consumption, and more….

Additional Data: National Center for Health Statistics We are now hosting research using confidential NCHS and AHRQ data in the CCRDC We are now hosting research using confidential NCHS and AHRQ data in the CCRDC Rules for access and disclosure the same as those in their enclaves Rules for access and disclosure the same as those in their enclaves No requirement to demonstrate Census benefit. No requirement to demonstrate Census benefit. Disclosure Avoidance review conducted by partner agencies Disclosure Avoidance review conducted by partner agencies Long list of datasets – including NHIS, NHANES, NSFG, LSOA…. Long list of datasets – including NHIS, NHANES, NSFG, LSOA….

Partners and Constituents Census Bureau, UC Berkeley, Researchers Census Bureau, UC Berkeley, Researchers …and oversight agencies …and oversight agencies Joint Project Agreement identifies responsibilities Joint Project Agreement identifies responsibilities Financial, Security, Employees, Processes Individual Agreements with Researchers, Special Sworn Status Individual Agreements with Researchers, Special Sworn Status

Partners and Constituents Joint & Complementary Interests Joint & Complementary Interests Census Bureau – Benefits to Bureau an integral and over-riding part of every project Berkeley – availability seen a key component for research, faculty recruitment/retention Researchers – Data allows:

Why use data at RDC? Not available elsewhere Not available elsewhere Establishment level business data Establishment level business data Linked household-firm (LEHD) data Linked household-firm (LEHD) data More detail than elsewhere More detail than elsewhere Detailed geo-spatial variables Detailed geo-spatial variables Virtually no top or bottom coding Virtually no top or bottom coding Possible to link to other non-Census data Possible to link to other non-Census data

Proposal Process & Environment Proposal Proposal Create account at Census – Online submission Create account at Census – Online submission Contact with local RDC administrator for project development, scope, benefits to Bureau Contact with local RDC administrator for project development, scope, benefits to Bureau Special Sworn Status Special Sworn Status Fairly long lead time, internal/external reviews, Fairly long lead time, internal/external reviews, Disclosure Risks vs. Benefits Secure Data Center, thin client, Linux Secure Data Center, thin client, Linux GIS tools include SAS 9.2, R, Grass GIS tools include SAS 9.2, R, Grass Also Stata, Sudaan, Gauss, Matlab, etc.. Also Stata, Sudaan, Gauss, Matlab, etc.. Restricted Entry, Printing, Isolated from Internet, 24 hour surveillance Restricted Entry, Printing, Isolated from Internet, 24 hour surveillance