Microdata

Please see below the procedures for requesting access to Inapp’s Micro Files for Research (MFRs) and Public User Files (PUFs).

Inapp’s Micro Files for Research (MFRs) are elementary data files, with no direct identifying elements, to which control methods have been applied to protect confidentiality. Access to Inapp MRFs is allowed only to researchers belonging to organisations recognised as Research Institutions by Comstat or Eurostat and can only be requested for the implementation of a specific research project.

Inapp’s Public User Files (PUFs) are elementary data files produced for some particular surveys from corresponding research files (MFRs) to which additional confidentiality protection techniques are applied, resulting in a reduction in informative content. 

Procedures for accessing elementary data held by Inapp in the form of MFRs

The MFR-Inapp files, made to meet scientific research needs, concern certain statistical surveys on individuals, households, and enterprises. These are elementary data files, without direct identifying elements, to which control methods have been applied to protect confidentiality.

Inapp’s procedure for access for scientific purposes to elementary data in the form of Micro Files for Research (MFRs) by external parties is in line with the provisions of Directive No. 11/2018 of the Committee for the Guidance and Coordination of Statistical Information (Comstat), which adopts the “Guidelines for Access for Scientific Purposes to Elementary Data of the National Statistical System,” implementing Article 5 of Legislative Decree No. 33/2013, as amended. These Guidelines set out the conditions under which Sistan entities and offices may allow researchers access for scientific purposes to elementary data, of which they are the owners, devoid of references which would allow direct identification of statistical units.

The procedure requires that:

  • The Institution to which the researchers belong either be part of the Research Institutions recognised by Comstat on the basis of pre-established criteria (Art. 5 paragraph 1(a) of Legislative Decree) or belong to the list of Research Institutions recognised by Eurostat (Regulation (EU) No. 557/2013). If the Institution to which the researchers who would like to access Inapp’s MFRs belong is not recognised by Comstat or Eurostat, the institution shall initiate a procedure to request recognition. Recognition of an Entity is a necessary condition for researchers to request access to elementary data files in the form of research files (MFRs). Organisations that can be considered for recognition requests are:
    • Universities, or their internal research facilities;
    • Research organisations, or their internal research facilities;
    • Public or private institutions (including Scientific Societies), or their internal research facilities.
  • For the purpose of applying for recognition as a research institution, the following forms from Istat must be completed:
    • Application for Recognition | ATCH. 1 doc | pdf 
    • Confidentiality undertaking of the entity applying for recognition | ATCH. 2 doc | pdf 
  • The completed forms should be sent to Istat using one of the following methods:
    • via certified mail to [email protected] 
    • via e-mail to [email protected] . In this case, it is also necessary to send the original documents by registered mail to Istat – DIRM/DCSI/SIA, Via Cesare Balbo, 16 – 00184 Rome. For more details on the procedure to request recognition please refer to the Istat website
  • The researcher in charge of the research project belonging to a recognised research organisation shall submit the following documents to Inapp:
  1. Research proposal in which the use of elementary data is requested | ATCH. 3 doc | pdf
  2. Preliminary proposal: for the purpose of eligibility assessment, the project leader may send a preliminary research proposal to [email protected], describing the project and clarifying the scientific purposes and relevance of the requested data, as indicated in ATCH. 3
  3. Individual confidentiality statement of the researcher in charge of the research project | ATCH. 4 doc | pdf
  4. Individual statement of confidentiality of other researchers | ATCH. 5 doc | pdf
  5. Supplementary statement, in case of joint projects | ATCH. 6 doc | pdf
  6. A joint project is a research project involving the collaboration of two or more entities. All participating institutions must be recognised. ATCH. 6 must also be signed by the contact person for requests to use the elemental data of each related entity.Copy of the identification document of the researcher in charge of the research project.

Researchers eligible to hold the position of Researcher in charge of the project and to access the data are the following: i) university professors (full, associate, aggregate, contract), researchers or analogous figures (e.g. technologists), research fellows from recognised research institutions; ii) managers of recognised research institutions/structures; iii) employees of recognised research institutions/structures carrying out research activities; iv) members of scientific societies.

The following are also researchers eligible to participate in a Research Proposal and to access the data: v) doctoral students; vi) other individuals formally collaborating with the Recognised Entity for research purposes.

The required documents, duly signed, should be sent to Inapp by one of the following methods:

  • via certified mail to [email protected] (to the attention of the Statistical Service)
  • via email to [email protected], in which case the original documentation must also be sent by registered mail to: Inapp – Statistical Service, Corso d’Italia, 33 – 00198 Rome.
  • The Research Proposal is evaluated by Inapp on the basis of the criteria established by Comstat (art. 5 paragraph 1, lett. c) of Legislative Decree n.33/2013e s.m.i).
  • The approved Research Proposal allows the researchers indicated in the same proposal to access the elementary data to which control methods for the protection of confidentiality have been applied (MFR file).

Procedures for access to elementary data held by Inapp in the form of PUFs

To obtain files for public use (PUFs), a request must be sent to Inapp’s Statistical Service (e-mail: [email protected]), enclosing the completed and signed FORM_PUF_INAPP.