[Air-L] Anonymizing qual interview data?

[Josir Gomes]

Hi Cory,

The best way that I know is to create a randomic code for each respondent
and remove any timestamp that indicates the order the response was given.
You can use the spreadsheet random() function to do that.

It is ideal that it be random, just to increase confidentiality a bit, in
case the answers' sequential order might identify the respondent in some
way.

About your concern to "reidentify" if research data was obtained: if
someone has the original research data, she/he will always have the means
to identify the original respondents, no matter the method you use to
anonymize.

Good luck on your research!
Josir

Em sex., 9 de abr. de 2021 às 05:16, Philip Derham <
derhamp at derhamresearch.com.au> escreveu:

> Hi Cory,
>
> Market researchers have much the same concern about keeping private all
> that is disclosed by research participants.
>
> Possibly their rules may be of some assistance - at least to formulate
> some standards for the students?  FYC,
>
>
>
> https://www.esomar.org/uploads/public/knowledge-and-standards/codes-and-guidelines/ICCESOMAR_Code_English_.pdf
>
> With best wishes,
>
> Philip Derham,
> DIRECTOR.
>
> Email:
> derhamp at derhamresearch.com.au
> Web:
> www.derhamresearch.com.au
> Telephone:
> (61) 0414 543 765
> Latest post:
> Office:
> https://tinyurl.com/better-staff-performance
> 6 Everton Grove, SURREY HILLS, VIC. AU., 3127
> Skype:
> philipderhamdmr
> Facebook:
> www.facebook.com/DerhamInsightsResearch
> Twitter:
> www.twitter.com/betterresponses
> LinkedIn:
> https://au.linkedin.com/in/philipderham/
> YouTube:
> Mail:
> Philip Derham (Derham Insights Research)
> PO Box 51, SURREY HILLS, VICTORIA, AU., 3127
>
> On Wed, Apr 7, 2021 at 3:47 AM Cory Robinson <cory.robinson at liu.se<mailto:
> cory.robinson at liu.se>> wrote:
> HI all,
>
> Two Master’s students I recently met are conducting recorded interviews
> resulting in texts they will code and quote within their theses. I have
> given input about how to protect the recorded interviews (encrypted,
> password protected, not stored in the cloud). I do not work with qual data,
> so I need help recommending methodology or help for anonymizing quotes in
> their thesis.
>
> (I am inquiring about this for a student, that unfortunately, has not
> received helpful advice from their supervisor). ☹
>
> The students assumed they would assign each participating an
> identification number, and then attribute the quote and ID # in their
> thesis. However, I feel there is surely a better way to ensure anonymity?
> (Too easy to reidentify if research data was obtained).
>
> What methods do you utilize for anonymizing individual interview data? Or
> manuscripts/books helpful for this? Sadly, the students are nearing the end
> of the study, but late is better than never. (It’s indeed a failure of
> universities, as well as unequipped supervisors!)
>
> Best,
> Cory
>