Why Use Pseudonyms?

Using realistic pseudonyms instead of codes or IDs makes your research data more human and easier to work with, while still protecting participant privacy. When you share findings or datasets, reviewers see natural names that prevent accidental re-identification through external databases.

This approach is especially valuable for:

• • GDPR Compliance: Demonstrate meaningful data minimization and risk reduction in your research protocols
• • Multi-session Studies: Keep participant identity consistent across multiple sessions while maintaining anonymity
• • Qualitative Research: Make anonymized quotes and case studies more readable and natural
• • Data Sharing: Share datasets with collaborators and reviewers without exposing real identities

Example: "John Smith" might become "Marcus Wheeler", and "Jane Doe" might become "Patricia Chen". These are real names selected from a pool of common names, not random codes or initials.