Managing research data containing personal information presents a number of challenges for researchers. Complex regulations, a lack of best practices, and absence of practical solutions not only create an administrative burden but also make many researchers hesitant to make their data accessible for fear of making mistakes.
To help researchers with this, SND is launching new resources on Researchdata.se in the dedicated section Data containing personal information.
The new resources support researchers who work with personal data in their research. They include an updated version of SND's handbook for data containing personal information that was previously found on SND.se, along with entirely new content in the form of practical guidance and examples based on SND’s experience in supporting researchers with everyday questions about handling personal data.
Based on real examples
– The content is based on SND’s practical work in helping researchers manage personal data in research. There is a lot written about laws and regulations regarding personal data, but few resources on how one can actually proceed in practice. Our hope is that the new resources will serve as a first entry point where it is easy to find answers and practical solutions, says Research Data Advisor Joel Carlsten Rosberg, who has led the work on creating these practically oriented resources.
The new resources include:
- Handbook for data with personal information: an updated version of the previous handbook on SND.se, with four parts – legal aspects, methods, tools and resources.
- Guidance and examples: practical examples and scenarios based on SND’s experience of supporting researchers in handling personal data.
- Frequently asked questions and common misconceptions: recurring questions and common misconceptions about handling personal data in research.
- Glossary: explanations of key concepts related to research data and personal information.
Supporting safer practices
– After the launch of Researchdata.se, more resources on how to handle personal data were requested from the network. We hope that the new section will make it easier for researchers who work with personal data, so that they feel more confident in making their data visible and shareable, says Sara Svensson, Head of Research Data Services at SND.
The new resources will be continuously updated as practices, regulations, and tools evolve. In this way, Data containing personal information will remain a relevant and up-to-date support for researchers. The page is freely accessible via Researchdata.se.