A software package for the application of probabilistic anonymisation to sensitive individual-level data: A proof of principle with an example from the ALSPAC birth cohort study

Journal article

Avraam, Demetris, Boyd, Andy, Goldstein, Harvey and Burton, Paul. (2018). A software package for the application of probabilistic anonymisation to sensitive individual-level data: A proof of principle with an example from the ALSPAC birth cohort study. Longitudinal and Life Course Studies. 9(4), pp. 433-446. https://doi.org/10.14301/llcs.v9i4.478

Authors	Avraam, Demetris, Boyd, Andy, Goldstein, Harvey and Burton, Paul
Abstract	Individual-level data require protection from unauthorised access to safeguard confidentiality and security of sensitive information. Risks of disclosure are evaluated through privacy risk assessments and are controlled or minimised before data sharing and integration. The evolution from ‘Micro Data Laboratory’ traditions (i.e. access in controlled physical locations) to ‘Open Data’ (i.e. sharing individual-level data) drives the development of efficient anonymisation methods and protection controls. Effective anonymisation techniques should increase the uncertainty surrounding re-identification while retaining data utility, allowing informative data analysis. ‘Probabilistic anonymisation’ is one such technique, which alters the data by addition of random noise. In this paper, we describe the implementation of one probabilistic anonymisation technique into an operational software written in R and we demonstrate its applicability through application to analysis of asthma-related data from the ALSPAC cohort study. The software is designed to be used by data managers and users without the requirement of advanced statistical knowledge.
Keywords	probabilistic anonymisation; disclosure control; measurement error; h-rank index; ALSPAC
Year	2018
Journal	Longitudinal and Life Course Studies
Journal citation	9 (4), pp. 433-446
Publisher	Society for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies
ISSN	1757-9597
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)	https://doi.org/10.14301/llcs.v9i4.478
Scopus EID	2-s2.0-85061775904
Open access	Open access
Research or scholarly	Research
Page range	433-446
Research Group	Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education (ILSTE)
Author's accepted manuscript	AM_Avraam_2018_A_software_package_for_the_application.pdf File Access Level Open
Publisher's version	License All rights reserved File Access Level Controlled
Output status	Published
Additional information	This record includes a post-peer-review, pre-copy edited version of an article published in Longitudinal and Life Course Studies. The definitive publisher-authenticated version Avraam, D., Boyd, A., Goldstein, H., & Burton, P. (2018). A software package for the application of probabilistic anonymisation to sensitive individual-level data: a proof of principle with an example from the ALSPAC birth cohort study. Longitudinal and Life Course Studies, 9(4), 433-446, is available at: doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.14301/llcs.v9i4.478
Place of publication	United Kingdom

Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8v488/a-software-package-for-the-application-of-probabilistic-anonymisation-to-sensitive-individual-level-data-a-proof-of-principle-with-an-example-from-the-alspac-birth-cohort-study

Download files

Author's accepted manuscript

	AM_Avraam_2018_A_software_package_for_the_application.pdf
File access level: Open

Restricted files

Publisher's version

(1 files)

48
total views
13
total downloads
1
views this month
0
downloads this month

These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Enhanced use of educational accountability data to monitor educational progress of Australian students with focus on Indigenous students

Cumming, Joy, Goldstein, Harvey and Hand, Kirstine. (2020). Enhanced use of educational accountability data to monitor educational progress of Australian students with focus on Indigenous students. Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Accountability. 32, pp. 29-51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11092-019-09310-x

Estimating reliability statistics and measurement error variances using instrumental variables with longitudinal data

Goldstein, Harvey, Haynes, Michele, Leckie, George and Tran, Phuong. (2020). Estimating reliability statistics and measurement error variances using instrumental variables with longitudinal data. Longitudinal and Life Course Studies. 11(3), pp. 289 - 306. https://doi.org/10.1332/175795920X15844303873216

Mindfulness-based intervention for educators: Effects of a school-based cluster randomized controlled study

Hwang, Yoon-Suk, Goldstein, Harvey, Medvedev, Oleg N., Singh, Nirbhay N., Noh, Jae-Eun and Hand, Kirstine Alicia. (2019). Mindfulness-based intervention for educators: Effects of a school-based cluster randomized controlled study. Mindfulness. 10(7), pp. 1417 - 1436. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01147-1

GUILD: guidance for information about linking data sets

Gilbert, Ruth, Lafferty, Rosemary, Hagger-Johnson, Gareth, Harron, Katie, Zhang, Li-Chun, Smith, Peter W.F., Dibben, Chris and Goldstein, Harvey. (2018). GUILD: guidance for information about linking data sets. Journal of Public Health. 40(1), pp. 191 - 198. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdx037

Multilevel growth curve models that incorporate a random coefficient model for the level 1 variance function

Goldstein, Harvey, Leckie, George, Charlton, Christopher, Tilling, Kate and Browne, William J.. (2018). Multilevel growth curve models that incorporate a random coefficient model for the level 1 variance function. Statistical Methods in Medical Research. 27(11), pp. 3478 - 3491. https://doi.org/10.1177/0962280217706728

Bayesian models for weighted data with missing values: a bootstrap approach

Goldstein, Harvey, Carpenter, James and Kenward, Michael G.. (2018). Bayesian models for weighted data with missing values: a bootstrap approach. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series C: Applied Statistics. 67(4), pp. 1071 - 1081. https://doi.org/10.1111/rssc.12259

A guide to evaluating linkage quality for the analysis of linked data

Harron, Katie, Doidge, James C., Knight, Hannah E., Gilbert, Ruth, Goldstein, Harvey, Cromwell, David A. and van der Meulen, Jan H.. (2017). A guide to evaluating linkage quality for the analysis of linked data. International Journal of Epidemiology. 46(5), pp. 1699 - 1710. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyx177

A Bayesian model for measurement and misclassification errors alongside missing data, with an application to higher education participation in Australia

Goldstein, Harvey, Browne, William J. and Charlton, Christopher. (2017). A Bayesian model for measurement and misclassification errors alongside missing data, with an application to higher education participation in Australia. Journal of Applied Statistics. 45(5), pp. 918 - 931. https://doi.org/10.1080/02664763.2017.1322558

Probabilistic linkage to enhance deterministic algorithms and reduce data linkage errors in hospital administrative data

Hagger-Johnson, Gareth, Harron, Katie, Goldstein, Harvey, Aldridge, Rob and Gilbert, Ruth. (2017). Probabilistic linkage to enhance deterministic algorithms and reduce data linkage errors in hospital administrative data. Journal of Innovation in Health Informatics. 24(2), pp. 234 - 246. https://doi.org/10.14236/jhi.v24i2.891

A scaling approach to record linkage

Goldstein, Harvey, Harron, Katie and Cortina-Borja, Mario. (2017). A scaling approach to record linkage. Statistics in Medicine. 36(16), pp. 2514 - 2521. https://doi.org/10.1002/sim.7287

Utilising identifier error variation in linkage of large administrative data sources

Harron, Katie, Hagger-Johnson, Gareth, Gilbert, Ruth and Goldstein, Harvey. (2017). Utilising identifier error variation in linkage of large administrative data sources. BMC Medical Research Methodology. 17(1), pp. 1 - 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-017-0306-8

Challenges in administrative data linkage for research

Harron, Katie, Dibben, Chris, Boyd, James, Hjern, Anders, Azimaee, Mahmoud, Barreto, Mauricio L. and Goldstein, Harvey. (2017). Challenges in administrative data linkage for research. Big Data and Society. 4(2), pp. 1 - 12. https://doi.org/10.1177/2053951717745678

Integrating area-based and national samples in birth cohort studies: the case of life study

Goldstein, Harvey, Sera, Francesco, Elias, Peter and Dezateux, Carol. (2017). Integrating area-based and national samples in birth cohort studies: the case of life study. Longitudinal and Life Course Studies. 8(3), pp. 281 - 289. https://doi.org/10.14301/llcs.v8i3.439

The evolution of school league tables in England 1992-2016: 'contextual value-added’, ‘expected progress’ and ‘progress 8’

Leckie, George and Goldstein, Harvey. (2017). The evolution of school league tables in England 1992-2016: 'contextual value-added’, ‘expected progress’ and ‘progress 8’. British Educational Research Journal. 43(2), pp. 193 - 212. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3264

Handling attrition and non-response in longitudinal data with an application to a study of Australian youth

Cumming, Jacqueline Joy and Goldstein, Harvey. (2016). Handling attrition and non-response in longitudinal data with an application to a study of Australian youth. Longitudinal and Life Course Studies. 7(1), pp. 53 - 63. https://doi.org/10.14301/llcs.v7i1.342

Record linkage

Goldstein, Harvey and Harron, Katie. (2016). Record linkage. In In K. Harron, H. Goldstein and C. Dibben (Ed.). Methodological developments in data linkage John Wiley & Sons.

Trends in examination performance and exposure to standardised tests in England and Wales

Goldstein, Harvey and Leckie, George. (2016). Trends in examination performance and exposure to standardised tests in England and Wales. British Educational Research Journal. 42(3), pp. 367 - 375. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3220

Interviewer effects on non-response propensity in longitudinal surveys : A multilevel modelling approach

Vassallo, Rebecca, Durrant, Gabriele, Smith, Peter and Goldstein, Harvey. (2015). Interviewer effects on non-response propensity in longitudinal surveys : A multilevel modelling approach. Royal Statistical Society. Journal. Series A: Statistics in Society. 178(1), pp. 83 - 99. https://doi.org/10.1111/rssa.12049

A multilevel modelling approach to measuring changing patterns of ethnic composition and segregation among London secondary schools, 2001-2010

Leckie, George and Goldstein, Harvey. (2015). A multilevel modelling approach to measuring changing patterns of ethnic composition and segregation among London secondary schools, 2001-2010. Royal Statistical Society. Journal. Series A: Statistics in Society. 178(2), pp. 405 - 424. https://doi.org/10.1111/rssa.12066

Validity, science and educational measurement

Goldstein, Harvey. (2015). Validity, science and educational measurement. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice. 22(2), pp. 193 - 201. https://doi.org/10.1080/0969594X.2015.1015402

Population sampling in longitudinal surveys

Goldstein, Harvey, Lynn, Peter, Muniz-terrera, Graciela, Hardy, Rebecca, O'Muircheartaigh, Colm, Skinner, Chris and Lehtonen, Risto. (2015). Population sampling in longitudinal surveys. Longitudinal and Life Course Studies (online). 6(4), pp. 447 - 452. https://doi.org/10.14301/llcs.v6i4.345

After the RCT : Who comes to a family-based intervention for childhood overweight or obesity when it is implemented at scale in the community?

Fagg, James, Cole, Tim, Cummins, Steven, Goldstein, Harvey, Morris, Stephen, Radley, Duncan, Sacher, Paul and Law, Catherine. (2015). After the RCT : Who comes to a family-based intervention for childhood overweight or obesity when it is implemented at scale in the community? Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 69(2), pp. 142 - 148. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2014-204155

Data linkage errors in hospital administrative data when applying a pseudonymisation algorithm to paediatric intensive care records

Hagger-Johnson, Gareth, Harron, Katie, Fleming, Tom, Gilbert, Ruth, Goldstein, Harvey, Landy, Rebecca and Parslow, Roger. (2015). Data linkage errors in hospital administrative data when applying a pseudonymisation algorithm to paediatric intensive care records. BMJ Open. 5(8), pp. 1 - 8. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008118

Identifying possible false matches in anonymized hospital administrative data without patient identifiers

Hagger-Johnson, Gareth, Harron, Katie, Gonzallez-Izquierdo, Arturo, Cortina-Borja, Mario, Dattani, Nirupa, Muller-Pebody, Berit, Parslow, Roger, Gilbert, Ruth and Goldstein, Harvey. (2015). Identifying possible false matches in anonymized hospital administrative data without patient identifiers. Health Services Research. 50(4), pp. 1162 - 1178. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.12272

Evaluating bias due to data linkage error in electronic healthcare records

Harron, Katie, Wade, Angie, Gilbert, Ruth, Muller-Pebody, Berit and Goldstein, Harvey. (2014). Evaluating bias due to data linkage error in electronic healthcare records. BMC Medical Research Methodology. 14(1), pp. 1 - 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-14-36

Fitting multilevel multivariate models with missing data in responses and covariates that may include interactions and non-linear terms

Goldstein, Harvey, Carpenter, James and Browne, William. (2014). Fitting multilevel multivariate models with missing data in responses and covariates that may include interactions and non-linear terms. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A: Statistics in Society. 177(2), pp. 553 - 564. https://doi.org/10.1111/rssa.12022

Panel attrition : How important is interviewer continuity?

Lynn, Peter, Kaminska, Olena and Goldstein, Harvey. (2014). Panel attrition : How important is interviewer continuity? Journal of Official Statistics. 30(3), pp. 443 - 457. https://doi.org/10.2478/JOS-2014-0028

Using league table rankings in public policy formation : Statistical issues

Goldstein, Harvey. (2014). Using league table rankings in public policy formation : Statistical issues. Annual Review of Statistics and Its Application. 1, pp. 385 - 399.

Modelling survival and mortality risk to 15 years of age for a national cohort of children with serious congenital heart defects diagnosed in infancy

Knowles, Rachel L., Bull, Catherine, Wren, Christopher, Wade, Angela, Goldstein, Harvey and Dezateux, Carol. (2014). Modelling survival and mortality risk to 15 years of age for a national cohort of children with serious congenital heart defects diagnosed in infancy. PLoS ONE. 9(8), pp. 1 - 15. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0106806

From trial to population: A study of a family-based community intervention for childhood overweight implemented at scale

Fagg, James, Chadwick, P., Cole, Tim, Cummins, Steven, Goldstein, Harvey, Lewis, H., Morris, Sue, Radley, Duncan, Sacher, Paul and Law, Catherine. (2014). From trial to population: A study of a family-based community intervention for childhood overweight implemented at scale. International Journal of Obesity. 38(10), pp. 1343 - 1349. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2014.103

Using league table rankings in public policy formation: Statistical issues

Goldstein, Harvey. (2014). Using league table rankings in public policy formation: Statistical issues. Annual Review of Statistics and Its Application. 1(1), pp. 385 - 399. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-Statistics-022513-115615

Knowledge and numbers in education

Goldstein, Harvey and Moss, Gemma. (2014). Knowledge and numbers in education. Comparative Education. 50(3), pp. 259 - 265. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681366.2014.926138

Adjusting for differential misclassification in multilevel models: The relationship between child exposure to smoke and cognitive development

Ferrao, Maria and Goldstein, Harvey. (2014). Adjusting for differential misclassification in multilevel models: The relationship between child exposure to smoke and cognitive development. Quality and Quantity (Print). 48(1), pp. 251 - 258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-012-9765-5

University mission creep? Comparing EU and US faculty views of university involvement in regional economic development and commercialization

Goldstein, Harvey, Bergman, Edward M. and Maier, Gunther. (2013). University mission creep? Comparing EU and US faculty views of university involvement in regional economic development and commercialization. The Annals of Regional Science. 50(2), pp. 453 - 477. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00168-012-0513-5

Evaluating educational changes: A statistical perspective

Goldstein, Harvey. (2013). Evaluating educational changes: A statistical perspective. Ensaio: Avaliacao e Politicas Publicas em Educacao. 21(78), pp. 101 - 114. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-40362013005000002

Linkage, Evaluation and Analysis of National Electronic Healthcare Data : Application to Providing Enhanced Blood-Stream Infection Surveillance in Paediatric Intensive Care

Harron, Katie, Goldstein, Harvey, Wade, Angie, Muller-Pebody, Berit, Parslow, Roger and Gilbert, Ruth. (2013). Linkage, Evaluation and Analysis of National Electronic Healthcare Data : Application to Providing Enhanced Blood-Stream Infection Surveillance in Paediatric Intensive Care. PLoS ONE. 8(12), pp. 1 - 11. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0085278

Linkage, evaluation and analysis of National Electronic Healthcare Data : Application to providing enhanced blood-stream infection surveillance in paediatric intensive care

Harron, Katie, Goldstein, Harvey, Wade, Angie, Muller-Pebody, Berit, Goldstein, Harvey, Parslow, Roger and Gilbert, Ruth. (2013). Linkage, evaluation and analysis of National Electronic Healthcare Data : Application to providing enhanced blood-stream infection surveillance in paediatric intensive care. PLoS One (online). 8(12), pp. 1 - 11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-013-2841-z

Risk-adjusted monitoring of blood-stream infection in paediatric intensive care : A data linkage study

Harron, Katie, Wade, Angie, Muller-Pebody, Berit, Goldstein, Harvey, Parslow, Roger, Gray, Jim, Hartley, John, Mok, Quen and Gilbert, Ruth. (2013). Risk-adjusted monitoring of blood-stream infection in paediatric intensive care : A data linkage study. Intensive Care Medicine. 39(6), pp. 1080 - 1087. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-013-2841-z

Transitioning to the new economy: Individual, regional and intermediation influences on workforce retraining outcomes

Goldstein, H. A., Lowe, N. and Donegan, M.. (2012). Transitioning to the new economy: Individual, regional and intermediation influences on workforce retraining outcomes. Regional Studies. 46(1), pp. 105 - 118. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2010.486786

Francis Galton, measurement, psychometrics and social progress

Goldstein, Harvey. (2012). Francis Galton, measurement, psychometrics and social progress. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice. 19(2), pp. 147 - 158. https://doi.org/10.1080/0969594X.2011.614220

The quality of planning scholarship and doctoral education

Goldstein, Harvey A.. (2012). The quality of planning scholarship and doctoral education. Journal of Planning Education and Research. 32(4), pp. 493 - 496. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X12449484

Multilevel Modeling of Social Segregation

Leckie, George, Pillinger, Rebecca, Jones, Kelvyn and Goldstein, Harvey. (2012). Multilevel Modeling of Social Segregation. Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics. 37(1), pp. 3 - 30. https://doi.org/10.3102/1076998610394367

The analysis of record-linked data using multiple imputation with data value priors

Goldstein, Harvey, Harron, Katie and Wade, Angie. (2012). The analysis of record-linked data using multiple imputation with data value priors. Statistics in Medicine. 31(28), pp. 3481 - 3493. https://doi.org/10.1002/sim.5508

Measuring success: League tables in the public sector

Foley, Beth and Goldstein, Harvey. (2012). Measuring success: League tables in the public sector London, United Kingdom: The British Academy.

REALCOM-IMPUTE Software for Multilevel Multiple Imputation with Mixed Response Types

Carpenter, James, Goldstein, Harvey and Kenward, Michael. (2011). REALCOM-IMPUTE Software for Multilevel Multiple Imputation with Mixed Response Types. Journal of Statistical Software. 45(5), pp. 1 - 14.

A note on 'The limitations of school league tables to inform school choice'

Leckie, George and Goldstein, Harvey. (2011). A note on 'The limitations of school league tables to inform school choice'. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A: Statistics in Society. 174(3), pp. 833 - 836. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-985X.2010.00688.x

Estimating research performance by using research grant award gradings

Goldstein, Harvey. (2011). Estimating research performance by using research grant award gradings. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A: Statistics in Society. 174(1), pp. 83 - 93. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-985X.2010.00657.x

Understanding uncertainty in school league tables

Leckie, George and Goldstein, Harvey. (2011). Understanding uncertainty in school league tables. Fiscal Studies. 32(2), pp. 207 - 224. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-5890.2011.00133.x

Patchwork intermediation: Challenges and opportunities for regionally coordinated workforce development

Lowe, Nichola, Goldstein, Harvey and Donegan, Mary. (2011). Patchwork intermediation: Challenges and opportunities for regionally coordinated workforce development. Economic Development Quarterly: the journal of American economic revitalization. 25(2), pp. 158 - 171. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891242410383413

Pupil composition and accountability: An analysis in English primary schools

Kounali, Daphne, Robinson, Anthony, Lauder, Hugh and Goldstein, Harvey. (2010). Pupil composition and accountability: An analysis in English primary schools. International Journal of Educational Research. 49(2-3), pp. 49 - 68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2010.08.001

MCMC sampling for a multilevel model with nonindependent residuals within and between cluster units

Browne, William and Goldstein, Harvey. (2010). MCMC sampling for a multilevel model with nonindependent residuals within and between cluster units. Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics. 35(4), pp. 453 - 473. https://doi.org/10.3102/1076998609359788

Pupil composition and accountability: An analysis in English primary schools

Lauder, Hugh, Kounali, Daphne, Robinson, Anthony and Goldstein, Harvey. (2010). Pupil composition and accountability: An analysis in English primary schools. International Journal of Educational Research. 45(2-3), pp. 49 - 68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2010.08.001

Statistical modelling of repeated measurement data

Goldstein, Harvey. (2010). Statistical modelling of repeated measurement data. Longitudinal and Life Course Studies. 1(2), pp. 170 - 185. https://doi.org/10.14301/llcs.v1i2.67

Handling attrition and non-response in longitudinal data

Goldstein, Harvey. (2009). Handling attrition and non-response in longitudinal data. Longitudinal and Life Course Studies.

Multilevel multivariate modelling of childhood growth, numbers of growth measurements and adult characteristics

Goldstein, Harvey and Kounali, Daphne. (2009). Multilevel multivariate modelling of childhood growth, numbers of growth measurements and adult characteristics. Royal Statistical Society. Journal. Series A: Statistics in Society.

Multilevel models with multivariate mixed response types

Goldstein, Harvey, Carpenter, James R., Kenward, Michael G. and Levin, Kate A.. (2009). Multilevel models with multivariate mixed response types. Statistical Modelling.

Comment peut-on utiliser les etudes comparatives internationales pour doter les politiques educatives d'information fiables?

Goldstein, Harvey. (2009). Comment peut-on utiliser les etudes comparatives internationales pour doter les politiques educatives d'information fiables? Revue Francaise de Pedagogie.