=============== Getting Started =============== This guide helps you get up and running with ACRO for statistical disclosure control. What is ACRO? ============= ACRO (Automatic Checking of Research Outputs) is a Python package that provides statistical disclosure control for research outputs. It acts as a wrapper around common analysis functions, automatically checking for potential privacy disclosures. Key Concepts ============ Statistical Disclosure Control (SDC) ------------------------------------ SDC is the process of protecting confidential information in statistical data releases. ACRO implements principles-based SDC that: * Identifies potentially disclosive outputs * Applies mitigation strategies when needed * Maintains detailed audit trails * Supports human checker workflows Disclosure Types ---------------- ACRO checks for several types of disclosure: * **Identity disclosure** - When individuals can be identified * **Attribute disclosure** - When sensitive attributes can be inferred * **Inferential disclosure** - When statistical inference reveals information Safety Thresholds ----------------- ACRO uses configurable thresholds to determine safety: * **Minimum cell count** - Default: 10 observations * **P-ratio threshold** - Default: 0.1 for dominance * **NK-rule** - Default: n=2, k=85% for concentration Basic Workflow ============== 1. **Initialize ACRO session** 2. **Run analysis with ACRO methods** 3. **Review disclosure warnings** 4. **Finalize outputs for checking** Installation Requirements ========================= * Python 3.10 or higher * pandas >= 1.5.0 * statsmodels >= 0.13.0 * PyYAML for configuration Next Steps ========== * See :doc:`core_concepts` for detailed methodology * Check :doc:`configuration` for customization options * Visit :doc:`../examples` for hands-on tutorials