Application to vary an existing microdata project in the StatsNZ Data Lab /

Last updated 7 November 2017

Instructions

Fill in this formif you want to vary a current microdata access agreement. This includes addinga new researcher, research question, or dataset; or requesting additional software or a time extension.

  • It usually takes us 10 working days to assess acompleted application. We will contact you if we have any questions during this time.
  • Final approval for this application rests with theGovernment Statistician or delegated authorised person.
  • See Using the Data Lab for more details about the application process.

Email your completed application form in Microsoft Word format to.
Remember to attach CVs and ethics approval (where applicable).
Before you start

If you want to discuss your proposed variation with us before you submit an application, contact us by phone at (04) 931 4253 or email .

Consider the following important issues when preparing your variation.

Confidentiality / All research outputs must protect the confidentiality of information supplied by respondents.
Ability of the research team / Researchers must have the quantitative research skills and experience needed to use microdata.
Statistics Act 1975 / All access to microdata must be consistent with the requirements of the Statistics Act 1975 (section 37).
Part 1: About this variation
1.1Project title
Enter thecode and title of your existing microdata project.
Code
(eg MAA20XX-XX) / Title
1.2Main contact
Provide details of the main contact for your project.
Name / Organisation and position
(egStats NZ, Senior researcher) / Phone / Email
1.3Alternative contact
In case we can’t contact the lead researcher while we assess this application, provide details of an alternative contact person.
Name / Organisation and position
(egStats NZ, Senior researcher) / Phone / Email
1.4Type of variation(s)
Indicate (with an ‘x’) which changes you would like to make to your project. Complete the corresponding section(s) of this applicationshown on the right.
Add a new researcher or remove a researcher / Complete part 2
Add a new research question / Completepart 3
Request access to a new dataset / Complete part 4
Request additional software / Complete part 5
Request a time extension for your project / Complete part 6
Part 2: Add a new researcher
2.1New researcher(s) requiring Data Lab login
Provide details of all researchers who will work on your project in the Data Lab. Subject to checks, we will give them access to microdata via a unique login account, and confidentiality training if this is their first project.
Note: We will ask all researchers to sign a Declaration of Secrecy, Researcher Undertaking, and the IR 820 certificate of secrecy before accessing any microdata, as required by the Statistics Act 1975.
Name / Organisation and position
(egStats NZ, Senior researcher) / Phone / Email / Reason for access
(eglead researcher)
2.2Researcher(s) requiring Data Lab viewing access
Provide details of researchers who will need to access the secure Data Lab but will not be working directly with the microdata. We will not give these researchers access via a unique login account, but they will be required to undergo confidentiality training.
Note:
  • While access to the Data Lab is restricted, we recognise that data experts may require access to view the data in the Data Lab in order to advise on the project. Please include an explanation of why the listed researchers require access to view unconfidentialised data in the Data Lab.
  • We will ask all researchers to sign a Declaration of Secrecy, Researcher Undertaking, and the IR 820 certificate of secrecy before viewing any microdata, as required by the Statistics Act 1975.

Name / Organisation and position
(egStats NZ, Senior researcher) / Phone / Email / Reason for access
(egexpert advisor on tax data)
2.3Curriculum vitae(s)
Attach a CV for any new researchers who will be using the Data Lab for the first time. The CV should include an up-to-date:
  • employment history
  • examples of peer-reviewed research publications (if any)
  • a certified academic record from the issuing institution (if you are an academic researcher)
  • details of two referees we can contact.

Have you attached CVs for all first-time Data Lab researchers?
Leave blank if not applicable. / YES / NO
2.4Remove Data Lab researcher(s)
Provide the names of any researcher who no longer requires access to the project.
2.5New researcher(s) requiring access to draft output
Provide details of any new researchers who will need to view draft output but will not be working directly with the microdata. These researchers will not be given access to the Data Lab, and will not be required to undergo confidentiality training.
Note:
  • We will check all material released from the Data Lab to ensure researchers have correctly applied our confidentially rules. There is a two-phased checking process. See Microdata Output Guide (section 6) for an explanation of draft and final checks.
  • Draft output (eg data contained in a table or regression model) is confidentialised output used for planning further research or writing findings. You can share the output with the researchers named in this application, but must not make it public during this phase.

Name / Organisation and position
(egStats NZ, Senior researcher) / Phone / Email / Reason for access
(egpolicy advisor)
2.6Background check
Have any of the researchers named in this application been the subject of a disciplinary process or research ethics complaint? Is there any other reason why their character may be called into question regarding access to microdata?
YES / NO / If YES,
provide details
2.7SAS software
List the names of any new researchers who will require SAS. We will install SAS Enterprise Guide and assign a licence to each researcher.
Name

Return to part 1

Part 3: Add a new research question
3.1Newquestion(s) summary
Using plain English, write a short paragraph summarising your new research question(s),including how it fits within the scope of your existing research project.
Note: If you wish to significantly change the research scope of the original project, a new Data Lab project application may be required.
3.2New project objectives
Elaborate on the summary of your new research question(s), includingmore detail about:
  • your research objectives
  • the anticipated outcomes
  • how the research will contribute to the public good or development of policy.

3.3Research methodology
Describe the methodology for investigating your new research question, in particular:
  • the approximate size of your population of interest
  • any variables of interest.

3.4Anticipated outputs
Describe the anticipated outputs of your new research question(s). Include all intermediate and final results;for example,aggregated tables, index, ornew methodology. Elaborate on:
  • the granularity of your results
  • how you considered output rules and confidentiality in your outputs.
Note: We have limitations around releasing output with small underlying counts. See Microdata output guidefor the methods and rules researchers must use for confidentialising output produced from StatsNZ’s microdata.
3.5Dissemination methods
Describe how the results of your new research question(s) will be disseminated;for example, in a published report, in-house report, seminars, paper for journal, or conferences.
Note:We expect researcherstodocument and share their code for other researchers to use on the Wiki in the Data Lab, and on MeetaData once the code has cleared final checks. We also expect researchers to share a link to their research findings on How researchers are using the IDI.

Return to part 1

Part 4: Request access to a new dataset

Note:We remove or encrypt all personal identifiers in the datasets. Access to microdata is governed by the Statistics Act 1975, which means StatsNZ is legally required to protect confidential personal and business information.

4.1Additional data
Through the Data Lab, researchers can access the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), the Longitudinal Business Database (LBD), and other StatsNZ surveys. See Microdata available in the Data Labto find out what data can be accessedthrough the Data Lab.
List the additional datasets you need access to answer your research question(s). To help us understand your request, explain why each dataset is needed.
Dataset name
Contains the tables/variables you are interested in using.
(eg B4 School Checks) / IDI application code
If applying to use the IDI, quote the application code from Data in the IDI.
(eg MOH_B4SC) / Reason for access
Explain why you need the dataset.

If you are a researcher interested in linking data to the IDI or LBD, there is a separate application form to fill in. For more information, see Adding data to the IDI or LBD.

4.2Ethics approval
If you are requesting access to Ministry of Health data in the IDI, ethics approval from the Health and Disability Ethics Committee (HDEC) may be required. To see if ethics approval is required, see the HDEC website.
Have you attached a copy of HDEC’s findings? Leave blank if not applicable.
YES / NO / If NO,
provide details

Return to part 1

Part 5: Request additional software
5.1Software requirements
StatsNZ may be able to host additional software at an additional cost, and without user support, if your licence permits it. Please elaborate on:
  • the software required, and any alternatives
  • why you require the new software.

Return to part 1

Part 6: Request a time extension for your project
6.1Time extension
Time extensions for projects are generally for no longer than 12 months. Further variations may be accepted.
Existing completion date according to your access agreement
Proposed new completion date
Explain why a time extension is necessary for your project

Return to part 1

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