Ethics and user permissions

The task force’s goal is to support researchers and research teams conducting register-based studies in navigating permit procedures and ethical reviews.

Currently, researchers experience these processes as complex, unpredictable, and opaque. Authorities responsible for granting data access apply different practices and interpretations of legislation. There is a lack of external guidance and shared policies.

The task force aims to support the planning and construction of register-based datasets drawn from multiple authorities, as well as their linkage to other data sources. It also seeks to facilitate smooth interaction between researchers and the authorities providing the data.

The group will examine the permit procedures and ethical review practices of Statistics Finland as well as other data permit authorities in Finland and abroad. It will develop harmonized, step-by-step guidelines for permit processes and ethical review practices. In addition, the group will produce specific guidance and/or training for users of sensitive data on data use and the reporting of ethical issues. To inform this work, the group will map the challenges that research institutions and research teams face in permit procedures and ethical review.

By promoting smoother interaction between researchers and data-providing authorities, the task force contributes to improving the quality and impact of research.

Task Force

Chair and Vice Chair
Outi Sirniö, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, INVEST Research Flagship Centre and Johannes Lummikko, Statistics Finland

Members
Timo Anttila, University of Jyväskylä
Ciprian Domnisoru, Aalto University
Liina Junna, University of Helsinki
Mia Kilpeläinen, University of Eastern Finland
Aki Koivula, University of Turku, INVEST Research Flagship Centre
Heikki Korpela, VATT Institute for Economic Research
Turkka Näppilä, Tampere University
Tomi Rasimus, The National Archives of Finland
Anna Silvola, Statistics Finland