Analiza praktyk anonimizacji danych w polskich jakościowych badaniach socjologicznych na tle literatury przedmiotu oraz zasad etyczno-prawnych
The analysis of anonymisation practices in Polish sociological research in the light of the literature of the subject and ethical and legal regulations

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the article is to present the data anonymisation practices used in qualitative research by Polish sociologist and to combine those practices into types of data anonymisation. In order to realise this goal, I analysed the articles published in four major Polish sociological journals between 2015 and 2019. The analysis led to distinguishing various ways of data anonymisation which then were additionally combined into types of anonymisation by cluster analysis. Four types were identified: basic default anonymisation, leading pseudonymisation, anonymisation extended by location anonymisation, and anonymisation extended by providing the features of participants at a group level (not at an individual level). These types of anonymisation reflect the types of anonymisation that are described in the literature and confirm that researchers treat anonymisation as a natural and inherent part of social research (as stated in the “Sociologist’s code of ethics” by the Polish Sociological Association). Researchers rarely use the real identities of research participants and the procedure of authorisation (clearance). The anonymisation strategies in the analysed articles are often the default ones and are rather simplified; extended anonymisation is used less often.

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