Ensuring the confidentiality of statistical outputs from the ADRN

The ADRN has a proven safe mechanism to manage research use and outputs of confidential data. However, because the data that the researchers use are sensitive, it is possible that the publication of statistical analyses could inadvertently lead to the disclosure of sensitive information.

Many years of experience in managing research outputs, with very few problems, shows that there is a negligible risk of such a disclosure – but that risk does exist. Outputs are checked by researchers and trained output checkers before they are published. This is called ‘output statistical disclosure control’, or OSDC. As a result of this, statistical disclosure risk is reduced.

This guide is intended for: researchers who need to learn what OSDC is and how that relates to their work; data owners who are concerned about inadvertent disclosure of results; the wider public who are interested in how the ADRN’s security model (the ‘Five Safes’) works to encourage research while protecting confidentiality.