Comet has a new idea. "When the report is done, let's put the whole data sheet online! Then everyone can see our work."
Wren pulls out the privacy checklist from week 3. "The whole sheet? Every row, with every open-box answer?"
"Sure," Comet says. "There are no names on it."
"What do you notice about the open boxes, though?" Wren asks. "Some members wrote details about their own visits."
Comet reads a few and goes quiet.
Nova hovers over the checklist. "Would you like a hint?" she asks. "Ask what the data were collected for, and what they need to do after the report."
Keeper Ines nods. "The council asked one question. Maybe the sheet only needs to answer that one."
Information placed online can be used in ways that were not intended. Once it is online, it is difficult to delete.
Scattered bits of data can be combined to learn about one person. You learned this in week 3.
Where data are stored affects privacy and integrity, and encryption and passwords help block unauthorized access.
So the crew plans what happens to each part of the data once the report is done.
| Part of the data | The crew's plan after the report |
|---|---|
| Totals for each question | Keep and share with the council |
| Code book | Keep with the totals so they can be read |
| The 40 coded rows | Keep on the password-protected computer until the report is final, then delete |
| Raw paper forms and printed sheets | Keep locked away until the report is final, then shred |
| Q6 open-box answers | Never post; summarize for the council without quoting details |
This plan is part of the Commons Count story.
| Statement | True or false? |
|---|---|
| Information placed online is easy to delete later. | ? |
| Data can be used in ways that were not intended. | ? |
| Removing names means no other detail could point to a person. | ? |
| Deciding what to keep and what to delete is part of storing data well. | ? |
What a week, data analyst. Tomorrow is Mission Quest: a family code book and paper bit cards.