Data protection is a topic that is increasingly in the focus of public interest, and it is also of relevance for research in the educational sciences. The challenge here is to answer specific research questions while simultaneously guaranteeing that strict regulations governing data protection are upheld. It is the central function of the working unit Data Protection in Surveys, which is part of LIfBi’s Center for Study Management, to enable data generation under these circumstances. Data protection begins with the earliest preparations for data acquisition, and does not conclude with data input.

The working unit conceptualizes and designs research-friendly implementations of data protection law in LIfBi studies – tailored to the respective study design and the target groups surveyed. This includes data protection law support for the surveys in form of data protection law advice as well as the examination of data protection law aspects (data collection, storage and dissemination). This includes the implementation of and compliance with data protection regulations in the instruments, documents and procedures relevant to the survey. This also includes the data protection law implementations in the context of the culture ministry approval procedures of the school studies at LIfBi. In cooperation with the Research Data Center the working unit ensures compliance with the anonymization concept for survey data when creating scientific use files. Furthermore, the research unit offers consulting services to the scientific community regarding the above mentioned topics.

Contact: datenschutz-erhebungen@lifbi.de