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Data Ethics, Anonymisation, and Publication in the Activation Phase

If your thesis or project involves human participants, such as interviews, surveys, focus groups, observations, or case studies, you are responsible for handling data ethically, lawfully, and with care. These guidelines explain what this means in practice and how to proceed confidently. You are not expected to navigate this alone—your supervisor will support you throughout the process.

 

 

1. Your Core Responsibilities as a Learner

When working with human data, your responsibilities are to:

  • Protect participants from harm, distress, or identification

  • Respect privacy, dignity, and confidentiality

  • Handle data in line with GDPR and ethical research principles

  • Be transparent and responsible in how you analyse and report findings

These responsibilities apply to all research involving people, regardless of whether the topic feels “sensitive” to you.

2. What Counts as Sensitive or Human Data?

Your project involves human data if it includes, for example:

  • Interviews (structured, semi-structured, or informal)

  • Surveys or questionnaires

  • Case studies of individuals or organisations

  • Observations of people or groups

  • Mixed-methods research combining interviews and data analysis

Some projects may involve vulnerable or at-risk groups (e.g. minors, marginalised communities, people in precarious situations). If this applies—or if you are unsure—you must discuss this early with your supervisor.

3. What Does “Anonymisation” Mean in Practice?

Anonymisation means removing or modifying any information that could reasonably identify a participant, either directly or indirectly.

This includes (but is not limited to):

  • Names (real or pseudonyms)

  • Exact locations (cities, neighbourhoods, workplaces)

  • Employers, institutions, or organisations

  • Highly specific life events or biographical details

  • Distinctive speech patterns, expressions, or phrasing that could lead to recognition

Example

❌ “As a nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital in Manchester, I…”
✅ “As a healthcare professional in a large UK city, I…”

❌ “After my dismissal following the 2022 factory closure in Essen…”
✅ “After a workplace closure several years ago…”

4. Is It Acceptable to Edit Interview Transcripts?

Yes. Light editing of transcripts for anonymisation purposes is standard academic practice in qualitative research.

Editing is acceptable when:

  • The meaning is preserved

  • The analytical value is not distorted

  • Changes are applied consistently

  • The purpose is participant protection, not improving answers

Example

Original:

“I was shocked when my manager at Tesla Berlin told me…”

Edited (acceptable):

“I was shocked when my manager at a large technology company told me…”

You should never include raw, identifiable transcripts in your thesis, appendix, or presentation materials.

5. Can I Still Analyse Data After Anonymisation?

Yes. Your analysis should focus on:

  • Themes and patterns across participants

  • Coded insights

  • Aggregated findings

  • Carefully selected anonymised quotes

Anonymisation does not weaken academic quality when done responsibly. In fact, it reflects good research practice.

6. How Should I Store My Data?

You must store data securely and responsibly.

Raw (non-anonymised) data:

  • Store in an encrypted drive or password-protected folder

  • Limit access to you and your supervisor only

  • Do not upload to open platforms or share with others

Anonymised data:

  • May be used for analysis, assessment, and presentations

  • Can be included in your thesis as anonymised excerpts

Data should only be kept for as long as necessary for academic purposes.

7. Do I Need to Publish or Share My Raw Data?

No.

There is no requirement to publish or openly share raw qualitative data, especially when this would conflict with:

  • Participant confidentiality

  • Ethical obligations

  • GDPR compliance

In such cases, your thesis should include a short statement explaining that raw data cannot be shared for ethical reasons.

Example statement

“Due to ethical and confidentiality considerations, the raw qualitative data collected for this study cannot be shared publicly.”

This is common and fully acceptable in academic research.

8. Can My Thesis Still Be Published or Used Academically?

Yes.

Your work can be:

  • Submitted and assessed as a thesis

  • Presented internally

  • Developed into academic or professional outputs (where appropriate)

As long as:

  • Participants gave informed consent

  • Data is fully anonymised

  • Ethical constraints are clearly stated

Ethical safeguards do not limit the legitimacy or value of your work.

9. What Is Informed Consent?

Before collecting data, participants must:

  • Understand the purpose of your research

  • Know how their data will be used

  • Be informed about anonymisation and confidentiality

  • Participate voluntarily

Consent can be written or recorded, depending on your method. If you are unsure whether your consent process is sufficient, raise this before data collection.

10. What If I’m Unsure or Something Changes?

If there is any doubt—for example:

  • You realise your project involves sensitive groups

  • New risks emerge

  • You are unsure about anonymisation or consent

Discuss it with your supervisor immediately.

Early alignment helps ensure:

  • Ethical compliance

  • Smooth thesis progression

  • No issues at submission or assessment stage

Final Reassurance

Working with interviews and sensitive data is common and entirely manageable when done responsibly. Ethical research is not about restriction—it is about respect, care, and academic integrity.

You are supported throughout the process, and asking questions early is always the right decision.