Safe Centre access
Safe Centre as a data access channel
Access in the Safe Centre is provided to deidentified microdata sets only for scientific purposes, respecting the protection of individual statistical data and the data protection regulations. In the Safe Centre, researchers access to datasets prepared for research in safe environment with a CCTV surveillance system in place.
Who can use the Safe Centre?
Safe Centre access is available only for scientific purposes and access is granted only for approved research projects that meet all researcher accreditation criteria.
Datasets in the Safe Centre
Microdata-sets prepared for research and published on the HCSO website as well as final data containing microdata-sets prepared based on individual data requests are available for research in the Safe Centre.
- Standard datasets prepared for research
The list of such datasets is available and kept up-to-date on the HCSO website. The list is available on this page (see sections below). - Datasets prepared based on specific data requests
If no suitable dataset is available on the list of standard datasets prepared for research for the given research purpose, preparation of additional datasets based on a specific data request can be requested for a fee. HCSO allows access to such specific datasets after the successful evaluation of the data request. Datasets prepared based on specific data requests are available only for the purposes of the research project requesting the concerned datasets. - Linked datasets
During the preparation of the requested datasets, linkage of different datasets or preparation of such datasets for linkage is possible. In the latter case the HCSO assigns such technical IDs to the microdata sets that allow no direct identification but the linkage of the different datasets. - External datasets
External datasets can also be used for producing research outputs, in addition to the datasets prepared by the HCSO for the concerned research project. These external datasets must be listed on the data request form for Safe Centre access. External datasets not listed on the data request form cannot be used for the concerned research project. In line with the operating rules of the Safe Centre, external datasets must not contain direct identifiers. Syntax files, variable lists and other auxiliary files prepared for the research can also be requested for the work in the Safe Centre, given that these files are also indicated on the data request form.
Process of granting Safe Centre access
- Initiating Safe Centre access
Access to the Safe Centre can be requested by the completion of the data request form for Safe Centre access and its transmission to the HCSO via info@ksh.hu. All Safe Centre access requests must be initiated by using the data request form, both for the standard datasets prepared for research and datasets prepared based on specific data requests.
Data request form for Safe Centre access - Evaluation of Safe Centre access requests
Following the transmission of the data request form for Safe Centre access, the HCSO carries out researcher accreditation. Following the accreditation procedure the HCSO evaluates the data request if it can be fulfilled both from professional and data protection point of view. If additional consultation is necessary during the evaluation, the HCSO will contact the person sent the data request. - Signing contract and confidentiality commitment
Contract and confidentiality commitments are to be signed for data requests successfully approved after researcher accreditation and evaluation of the request form from professional and data protection point of view. The contract sets the rights and obligations of the entity requesting access and the HCSO within the frame of the concerned research project. Sample of the standard templates for the contract and the confidentiality commitment are available here:
Sample of the contract
Sample of the confidentiality commitment - Providing Safe Centre access
Following the signing of the contract and the confidentiality commitment, the HCSO provides access in the Safe Centre in accordance with the conditions and time frame specified in the contract and sends the necessary identification information to the researchers for the use of the Safe Centre.
Safe Centre services available free of charge and for a fee
Conducting research on standard datasets prepared for research is free of charge, including the output checking of the produced research outputs.
For the output checking of produced research outputs for datasets prepared based on specific data requests, 60.000 HUF/day + VAT is to be paid.
Publicity of information on research projects
For approved research proposals for Safe Centre access, the HCSO publishes the following information on each research project on its website:
- topic of the research project
- official full name of the Institution (in case of research with institutional background) or the name of the signatory (in case of research without institutional background)
Visiting the Safe Centre
Researchers entitled to visit the Safe Centre can use the Safe Centre facility during its opening hours.
Opening hours of the Safe Centre:
from Monday to Thursday: 09.00 – 16.00
on Friday: 09.00 – 13.00
The HCSO created the Safe Centre in the framework of the “Development of On-line Statistical Content” GVOP project with the financial assistance of the European Union and the Hungarian State.
Standard datasets prepared for research
The following standard microdata sets are available for research in the Safe Centre of the HCSO:
- Population and Housing Census microdata sets
- Microcensus of 2016
- the personal, dwelling, household and family datasets of the microcensus
- dataset of the ’International migration’ additional survey
- dataset of the ’Social stratification’ additional survey
- dataset of the ’Limitations due to health problems’ additional survey
- dataset of the ’Subjective well-being’ additional survey
- dataset of the ’Occupational prestige’ additional survey
- 10% sample of the Population and Housing Census 2011
For the preparation of work conducted on the microdata set of the Population and Housing Census 2011 the HCSO proposes to use the test files publicly available on the HCSO website. The test files contain all variables of the 10% sample thus they allow – as a preparatory work for the research in the Safe Centre – the preparation of syntax files. These test files on the Population and Housing Census 2011 (information currently available in Hungarian only) are publicly available on the HCSO website free of charge. - Microcensus of 2005
- 10% sample of the Population and Housing Census 2001
- Microcensus of 2016
- Labour Force Survey (LFS) microdata sets, Quarterly datasets
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, Q2 2017 - Household Budget Survey (HBS) and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) microdata sets
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Well Being microdata dataset 2013, Material deprivation - Farm Structure Survey - EUROFARM microdata sets
2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010 - European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) microdata sets
2009, 2014 - Time Use Survey microdata sets
2010
For background methodological information on the above listed microdata sets please visit the metainformation on the corresponding subject-matter domains.
If no appropriate standard microdata sets are available for a given research purpose, specific datasets can be requested for a fee. The HCSO provides access to such specific datasets after the process of granting access to the Safe Centre.
Metadata and other information
In order to support the research – apart from the requested datasets as well as their related metadata – the HCSO provides the following additional information for the researcher during the duration of the research project:
- Guideline for researchers.
- Methodological guides, information on the data collections, questionnaires (including the names of the variables).
- HCSO publications of the related topic.
- List of variables in the files, indicating the exact name, measure, number of the question on the questionnaire to which the variable contains the answer.
- The description of classifications, nomenclatures that are used in the files (in effect at the given time and at the reference time of the data).
- The labels of the variables in a separate file or built into the data file.
Operation of the Safe Centre
The Safe Centre is a CCTV observed safe environment created within the premises of the HCSO (H-1024 Budapest, Keleti Károly u. 5–7.), operating separately from the systems of the HCSO, where it is not allowed to:
- Print documents. The Safe Centre is not equipped with physical printers therefore printing on the premises of the Safe Centre is not possible.
- Copy data to external data storage.
- Copy the data used for research onto the hard drive of the local client PC. The researcher may only save the results and working documents to the designated storage place.
- Connect any instrument to the client PC. The connections of the client PC may not be used as due to IT security restrictions.
- Enter the Safe Centre with laptop, phone or any other instrument capable of mobile communication and recording. Before entering the Safe Centre, the researcher shall store for the duration of the research the laptop, phone and any other instrument capable of mobile communication and recording pictures, sound, or video in a storage place outside the Safe Centre, which may be closed by key.
- Use of internet and e-mail. The client PCs available in the Safe Centre are operating in an environment that is separated from the internet as well as the internal systems of the HCSO, therefore the use of internet and its services is forbidden within the access point.
- Take notes prepared in a non-electronic form from the Safe Centre. Notes related to the research may only be taken electronically and saved in the storage place designated to the researcher.
- Change the system settings. The system settings of the client PCs available in the Safe Centre shall not be changed.
Apart from the HCSO staff responsible for the operation of the Safe Centre, only researchers indicated on the data request form for Safe Centre access – which forms an integral part of the contract – and signed the confidentiality commitment shall have access to the Safe Centre.
Rules of conducting research in the Safe Centre
The following rules apply to the use of the Safe Centre facility and the support of the research activity carried out in the Safe Centre:
- The researcher is allowed to conduct research using only the client PCs available in the Safe Centre.
- For the use of the Safe Centre, the researcher must identify himself/herself. The HCSO provides access information to the researcher only if the corresponding contract for Safe Centre access is signed.
- Prior to the actual research activity in the Safe Centre the researcher is informed on the operational rules of the Safe Centre, including the documentation requirements of the research outputs and any other necessary information on the work in the Safe Centre.
- During the time period of conducting research in the Safe Centre, support is provided to the researcher. The dissemination unit provides support for the use of the Safe Centre facility and support in subject-matter and/or data protection issues are provided by the data owner units and the methodology unit of the HCSO.
- The IT unit of the HCSO is responsible for providing the necessary storage space, the daily backup and the archiving of the produced research outputs.
- The researcher shall indicate the name of the HCSO as a source on any work, publication, scientific paper that is based on the research outputs produced in the Safe Centre, in addition these should contain the non-liability clause which states that the HCSO shall not be held liable for any outputs nor for the conclusions that may be drawn based on them. The Institution shall – prior to publication – provide the HCSO with a copy of any publication, work and scientific paper based on the research outputs produced from the datasets accessed in the Safe Centre.
- The researcher is entitled to visit the Safe Centre during its opening hours.
Software available in the Safe Centre
Only the software tools available in the Safe Centre can be used to conduct research in the Safe Centre environment. Additional software or different versions of the software available in the Safe Centre are not allowed. The researcher can request additional packages for the available software for the research project.
Available software and their versions:
- STATA 12.0 SE
- SPSS 22.0 BASE
- SAS 9.4, SAS Enterprise Guide 7.1
- Microsoft Office 2013
- Stat/Transfer v12
Output checking
The HCSO fully examines the research outputs produced in the Safe Centre from statistical confidentiality point of view, prior to their release to the researcher. The HCSO provides access to the researcher only for those research outputs that are checked and approved against statistical confidentiality. HCSO does not release research outputs without mandatory output checking procedure.
The purpose of the output checking procedure is to check the produced research outputs against disclosure; to ensure that the research outputs do not allow identification of and disclosure of information on statistical units.
In order to support the output checking procedure, all research outputs produced in the Safe Centre must be documented. Researchers have to document their research outputs using the standard documentation form of the research outputs. This documentation form is also available as part of the guideline for researchers.
Guideline for researchers
The HCSO provides a detailed guideline for researchers, covering the relevant technical and organisational aspects of the research carried out in safe environment (Safe Centre included). The guideline contains the rules of research with special attention given the rules of producing research outputs and the output checking procedure.
Pictures
Contact
Address: 1024 Budapest, Keleti Károly utca 5–7.
Telephone: (+36-1) 345-6789
If you have any additional questions or comments on data requests, please contact us.
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