Expanding Access, Protecting Trust: Modern Approaches to Sensitive Policy Data
Tuesday, July 14
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Co-hosted by Westat
7501 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD, 20814
Answers to important policy questions about health, education, economic well‑being, and public program performance often require access to data that is restricted to protect privacy. At the same time, data stewards, policymakers, and researchers face growing pressure for timely, transparent, and credible evidence. How can we expand access to sensitive data without compromising privacy, confidentiality, or public trust?
Join APPAM & Westat as we examine practical, real‑world techniques for using sensitive data in policy research. This panel explores how techniques such as synthetic data, small cell suppression, and privacy-preserving linkage expand access to evidence while protecting subjects and maintaining trust. Topics covered will include:
- When and how artificially generated datasets can support policy analysis while protecting individual privacy
- How disclosure control techniques are used when reporting on small populations or small cell counts in general, and why they matter for both privacy and data quality
- How these methods enable deeper insights into program outcomes and population‑level impacts while protecting privacy
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how modern approaches can increase the usability of sensitive data, and what that means for the future of evidence‑based policymaking.
Cost:
APPAM Members: Free
Non-Members: $10
