A New Multiple-bootstrap-datasets Presentation Method for Confidentiality Protection

Government agencies routinely release various public use microdata files (PUMF) at the respondent level such that outside researchers can perform various statistical analyses according to their own needs and verify results published by government agencies. There are mainly two equally critical but conflicting goals when releasing PUMF: maximizing the “openness” of its operation and preserving the confidentiality of the survey respondents. “Without adequate access to data, decision making is poorly based, and without adequate assurance of confidentiality, voluntary reporting is likely lessened.” (Duncan and Lambert, 1986)