Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 27, 2026

1. Overview

This Privacy Policy describes how the Spiral Staircase website (“Site”) collects, uses, and protects information when you visit the Site. We are committed to respecting your privacy and being transparent about our data practices.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

Mismatch Assessment: When you use the Mismatch Assessment (workbook) tool, your responses are stored locally on your device using browser localStorage. This data is never transmitted to our servers or any third party. We do not have access to your assessment responses, scores, or history.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

Analytics: We use Google Analytics (Google tag ID: G-8M360JNKZM) to understand how visitors use the Site. Google Analytics collects:

  • Pages visited and time spent on pages
  • Referring website or source
  • Browser type and device information
  • Approximate geographic location (country/region level)
  • Anonymized IP address

This data is aggregated and anonymized. We cannot identify individual visitors from this data. Google Analytics is operated by Google LLC. For more information about how Google processes this data, see Google's Privacy Policy.

2.3 Cookies

Google Analytics uses cookies to distinguish unique users and track sessions. These are first-party cookies set by Google. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, or by adjusting your browser cookie settings.

3. Information We Do NOT Collect

  • We do not collect names, email addresses, or personal contact information through the Site
  • We do not collect health data, medical information, or assessment responses
  • We do not sell, rent, or share any personal information with third parties
  • We do not use advertising cookies or retargeting pixels
  • We do not track individual users across websites

4. Local Storage

The Mismatch Assessment tool uses your browser's localStorage to save your responses, scores, and history. This data:

  • Remains entirely on your device
  • Is never transmitted to any server
  • Is not accessible to us or any third party
  • Can be deleted at any time by clearing your browser data or using the Reset function in the Assessment
  • Is stored in plaintext and is accessible to anyone with physical access to your device

5. Third-Party Services

The Site contains links to third-party services including:

  • Amazon.com— for book purchases. Amazon has its own privacy policy and data practices. We are an independent publisher and are not affiliated with Amazon beyond listing our book for sale.
  • Google Scholar / PubMed— for accessing referenced scientific papers. These are operated by Google and the National Library of Medicine respectively.
  • Vercel— the Site is hosted on Vercel's infrastructure. Vercel may collect standard server logs (IP addresses, request times) as part of normal web hosting operations.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party services. We encourage you to review their respective privacy policies.

6. Children's Privacy

This Site is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us via NPB.com so we can take appropriate action.

7. Data Security

The Site is served over HTTPS, which encrypts data in transit between your browser and our servers. Since we do not collect or store personal information on our servers, there is no database of user data to protect. Assessment data stored in your browser's localStorage is subject to the security of your own device.

8. Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Opt out of Google Analytics tracking using the browser add-on linked above
  • Clear all locally stored assessment data at any time through your browser settings
  • Use the Reset function in the Mismatch Assessment to delete your stored responses
  • Block cookies through your browser settings
  • Access this Site without providing any personal information

9. International Users

This Site is operated from the United States. If you are accessing the Site from outside the United States, please be aware that any data transmitted through Google Analytics may be transferred to and processed in the United States or other countries where Google operates. By using the Site, you consent to this transfer.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Your continued use of the Site after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact

For questions about this Privacy Policy, please visit NPB.com.