Visiting the CRRC
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VISITING CRRC |
Visiting the Conflict Records Research Center (CRRC)
The CRRC welcomes scholars to use its holdings. Because of the nature of the materials, however, potential researchers must complete several important steps prior to visiting the CRRC. This process includes determining whether the CRRC possesses files that may be helpful to one’s research, obtaining Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval of one’s research plan, and scheduling a time to use our research facilities. Accordingly, the first step in using CRRC holdings is to e-mail us a two-paragraph summary of your research interests so we can guide you through this process and help you obtain access to CRRC records in the most expeditious manner possible.
The CRRC requires all visiting researchers to adhere to US government standards regarding the protection of Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Certain documents in the CRRC database may contain PII that was collected on individuals without their knowledge and that, if made public, could subject them to harm or discomfort greater in and of themselves than those ordinarily encountered in daily life. PII includes information that could be used to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity, such as his or her name, address, personal e-mail address or phone number, social security number, family member names, biometric records, etc., alone, or when combined with other personal or identifying information which is linked or linkable to a specific individual, such as date and place of birth, mother’s maiden name, etc. PII protections generally do not apply to the deceased or to public officials (e.g. Saddam Hussein) acting in their official capacity.
Prior to accessing the CRRC database, scholars must obtain IRB approval of a research plan containing a pledge not to publish or otherwise disseminate PII encountered in CRRC holdings. This includes publishing PII in articles, books, or scholarly papers, making PII or documents containing it available on a website or other forums that might result in public dissemination, or other such activities. If scholars take notes containing PII from the CRRC, they must agree to store them in a locked location (desk, drawer, cabinet, etc), until the completion of the research project and/or the notes are no longer needed, at which time they agree to permanently destroy them. Scholars may not use PII found in the CRRC to locate and interview research subjects without first obtaining IRB approval that explicitly authorizes such research.
CRRC rules forbid removing digital copies of records, or of parts of records, from the archive. Photography and recording devices are not allowed. If researchers violate their commitments to protect PII, they will be permanently banned from using the CRRC and may also be subject to additional penalties and sanction. While scholars must obtain IRB approval before accessing CRRC records, the CRRC imposes no prepublication review requirement of any kind.
CRRC hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00am-4:30pm.
The CRRC is located at:
National Defense University
Ft. Lesley J. McNair
Lincoln Hall, Suite 1600
260 5th Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20319
(202) 685-7230