10/03/02
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Microdata (cont’d)
•Second step: use methods to lessen the chance of re-identifying individuals from “unique” combinations of variables, e.g.,
–Releasing a random subsample;
–Limiting geographic detail;
–Reducing the number of "unusual cases" (examples of methods used include rounding, recoding categorical responses, using ranges for age rather than exact age or date of birth); and
–Increasing the uncertainty associated with data (i.e., data swapping, adding random noise).