arXiv · 2501.14651
Data-NoMAD: A Tool for Boosting Confidence in the Integrity of Social Science Survey Data
Abstract
To safeguard against data fabrication and enhance trust in quantitative social science, we present Data Non-Manipulation Authentication Digest (Data-NoMAD). Data-NoMAD is a tool that allows researchers to certify, and others to verify, that a dataset has not been inappropriately manipulated between the point of data collection and the point at which a replication archive is made publicly available. Data-NoMAD creates and stores a column hash digest of a raw dataset upon initial download from a survey platform (the current version works with Qualtrics and SurveyCTO), but before it is subject to appropriate manipulations such as anonymity-preserving redactions. Data-NoMAD can later be used to verify the integrity of a publicly archived dataset by identifying columns that have been deleted, added, or altered. Data-NoMAD complements existing efforts at ensuring research integrity and integrates seamlessly with extant replication practices.
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Sanford C. Gordon, Cyrus Samii, Zhihao Su. 2025-01-24. Data-NoMAD: A Tool for Boosting Confidence in the Integrity of Social Science Survey Data. https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.14651
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