Statistics Finland's research datasets can be combined with both Statistics Finland's datasets and other datasets. The combining is usually made by Statistics Finland.
The possibilities for combining depend on the dataset to be combined.
When combining datasets collected with interviews and surveys with other datasets in a research dataset, the processing of personal data must be transparent for the data subject.
Those participating in interviews and surveys must be informed about combining the data with register data already when they are contacted for the first time regarding the data collection.
Respondents must be informed about:
If Statistics Finland’s individual-level data are to be combined with datasets collected with an interview or a survey, the participants must have been informed of which data are to be combined with the survey responses.
Respondents must be informed in the information letter that data concerning them are also retrieved from Statistics Finland. In addition, they must be informed of the personal data groups (such as income, education, labour force status) from which data are meant to be combined, as well as the time period for which the data are to be combined. The data may concern, for example, only the time of the survey or a longer period, such as work and educational history. Respondents must also be informed if data concerning other persons, such as family members or colleagues, are to be combined with the survey responses (for example, by using family or establishment identifiers).
We recommend that you apply for a user licence for combining survey data with register data even before conducting the survey. Then questions related to informing respondents will be handled in connection with the licence processing even before collecting the data.
If unit-level datasets are to be combined with unit-level datasets of others than Statistics Finland, a user licence is needed from both the other party and Statistics Finland.
Cause of death datasets are an exception. If they are combined with other unit-level datasets and the produced dataset is used in the FIONA remote access environment, a user licence is needed both from Findata and Statistics Finland. However, if cause of death datasets are released or used in Findata's remote access system Kapseli, then Findata’s user licence is sufficient.
The datasets can be combined with public data of other authorities without a user licence. In addition to Statistics Finland, other statistical authorities are Finnish Customs, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).
Datasets can be combined with public statistical data of other than statistical authorities. The combining requires a user licence from Statistics Finland.
The datasets to be combined are usually delivered through a data transfer service. In order for the dataset to be transferred correctly, the datasets must be named according to the instructions. Read the instructions carefully, because misnamed datasets will not be transferred correctly.