# Randomized Controlled Trials without Data Retention

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2102.03316 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2102.03316/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 5 Feb 2021.

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Policy Learning with Weak Signals](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2610.10167/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Amidst rising appreciation for privacy and data usage rights, researchers have increasingly acknowledged the principle of data minimization, which holds that the accessibility, collection, and retention of subjects' data should be kept to the bare amount needed to answer focused research questions. Applying this principle to randomized controlled trials (RCTs), this paper presents algorithms for making accurate inferences from RCTs under stringent data retention and anonymization policies. In particular, we show how to use recursive algorithms to construct running estimates of treatment effects in RCTs, which allow individualized records to be deleted or anonymized shortly after collection. Devoting special attention to non-i.i.d. data, we further show how to draw robust inferences from RCTs by combining recursive algorithms with bootstrap and federated strategies.