SAMHSA RDC Student SAMHSA RDC Student Data User Acknowledgment Form

The SAMHSA Research Data Center (RDC)

Student Data User Acknowledgement
(Last updated: November 2022)
RDC services include:
• Reviewing your proposal for feasibility and disclosure risk
• Conducting a disclosure risk review of the output from your statistical analysis
RDC services do not include:
• Providing methodological or analytical advice – When preparing your proposal, consult the
public-use documentation for each survey year or cycle. Files, concepts, variable names, and
the availability of certain variables may change over time.
• Helping write statistical code for your project.
• Providing any type of data file for use outside of the RDC.
• Merging files.
Project Timing:
• Estimate approximately 12 weeks lead-time for proposal review. The process is iterative,
with your RDC Analyst routing comments from the reviewers to you for proposal
revision.
• Estimate approximately 12 weeks before access to the data is granted after proposal
approval. Users must complete confidentiality training, submit confidentiality forms, and
submit payment before they are granted access to the data. Federal Statistical RDC users
must also apply for Special Sworn Status.
• Allow sufficient time for conducting data analysis to produce approved output.
• Allow time for scheduling the RDC visit and travel to the RDC. You must schedule your RDC
appointment at least 7 days in advance. Virtual Data Enclave (VDE) access may also be
available after March 2023.
• Estimate a minimum of at least 3 weeks for a disclosure review of each output request.
Follow the procedures in the Guidelines for SAMHSA RDC Data Users for output. The output
review takes time depending on the quantity of the output and RDC staff workload.
Approved output will be emailed to the researcher.
RDC Proposal Approval:
• Approval allows you access to restricted-use data. It is not an endorsement of your
research.
• Research projects may change over time. Notify your SAMHSA RDC about any major
changes to your project for you may need to submit an amended proposal.
Output:
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•

The SAMHSA RDC will only release output described in the approved proposal.
The RDC does not release intermediate output. The Guidelines for SAMHSA RDC Data Users
outlines the steps users must take to prevent disclosure.

I have read and agree to the above statements and will plan accordingly. I have also read the Guidelines
for SAMHSA RDC Data Users and agree to abide by all rules and restrictions of the NCHS Research Data
Center.
Student: ______________________ Signature: _________________________ Date: ______________
Advisor: _______________________ Signature: _________________________ Date: ______________