@article{ref1,
title="The Zipper: a method for using personal identifiers to link data while preserving confidentiality",
journal="Child abuse and neglect",
year="2001",
author="Kruse, Robin L. and Ewigman, Bernard G. and Tremblay, G. C.",
volume="25",
number="9",
pages="1241-1248",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: This report describes a method for linking separate confidential data sets that contain personal identifying information while preserving required anonymity. METHODS: Research data were linked with child abuse and neglect (CAN) report data by an independent &quot;safe&quot; analyst using an identical set of unique identifier codes assigned to each case in both data sets after all personal identifiers had been removed. RESULTS: The research team never learned CAN report status of individuals, the state agency never saw the research data, and the desired analyses were completed using the merged data set. CONCLUSIONS: The method was successfully used to merge data from separate sources without divulging confidential information.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0145-2134",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}