Anonymity

Guidelines from the College of Charleston IRB

Collection of anonymous data provides the ultimate privacy protection for human participants and should be used whenever possible.

Care must be taken, however, to assure that the data are truly anonymous.

  • Particularly with small sample sizes it may be possible to identify an individual because of the demographic information collected, e.g. the only Asian woman in the group.
  • Surveys must be collected in a manner that protects anonymity, e.g. a collection box rather than having surveys handed in to an individual or self-addressed return envelopes with instructions not to include a return address.
  • If there is compensation for participation or entry in a prize drawing, a procedure must be outlined to assure that the personal information is not attached to the research data collected.

The College of Charleston IRB approved template for Anonymous Surveys should be used and adapted as appropriate.

Suggested Procedures for Anonymous Pre-Post Testing

1) Code number in envelope

Give every participant a questionnaire (or a packet of research instruments) marked with a code number, a piece of paper with the code number, and a blank envelope.  Ask the participant to write his/her name on the envelope, put the slip of paper inside, and seal the envelope.  Collect the envelopes for distribution at the time of the post-test.  If signed consent is required (e.g., to track participants for course credit), be sure not to the code number on the consent form.

2) Create a code

Have every participant create a unique code, for example include the following at the top of all questionnaires (or other research instruments):

Please fill in the following information to allow us to pair pre and post surveys. (DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME on this survey)
The first two letters of your mother’s first name _____ _____ (e.g., Jessica  J E)
The first two letters of your father’s first name _____ _____ (e.g., Robert  R O)
The month of your birth _____ _____ (e.g. March  0 3)
The day of your birth _____ _____ (e.g. 5th day of the month  0 5 )

Created: October 16, 2009