We recognise the importance of dealing with research data respectfully. There is often highly confidential information revealed to the researcher that the respondent may not want openly shared. There are however, many ways to protect sensitive information or the identity of vulnerable informants. We work with you to ensure the way that your data is managed fits with ethical and moral obligations. This includes the management of ongoing access for data reuse. Embargoes are also conditions that can be considered to protect informants.
Another consideration for researchers working with qualitative datasets is the value of contextual material. We will work with you to ensure that we collect enough information to ensure the ongoing viability of reuse of the data.
Of course from time to time there are research studies that involve such sensitive material or so clearly identify vulnerable people that they cannot be made available to other researchers and we would not want to archive something that cannot ever be used.
The ATSIDA Protocols guide the work of the data archive to ensure that we operate in ways that are respectful to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.