Survey Response De-Identification Checklist

• Remove direct identifiers (name, address, phone number, email, etc.)
• Remove or recode unique identifiers (ID numbers, codes, etc.)
• Remove or generalize small geographic data (zip code, city, coordinates, etc.)
• Delete or obfuscate free-text responses revealing identity

• Review and aggregate demographic variables (age, ethnicity, etc.) as necessary
• Suppress or modify rare characteristics or outliers
• Evaluate dates for possible re-identification and shift or generalize as needed

• Check and redact embedded identifying information in comments or "other" fields
• Ensure file properties (meta-data) do not include identifiers