What does it mean for research to be confidential?

Confidentiality in research entails that the information provided by participants is protected and kept private, ensuring that only authorized individuals, typically the researcher or designated team members, have the capability to connect participants with their specific data. This means that after data collection, personal identifiers are either removed or stored separately to maintain anonymity, creating a safeguard against potential misuse of sensitive information. This principle is crucial to building trust between the researchers and participants, as individuals are more likely to provide honest and thorough responses when they know their privacy is respected.

Other options do not align with the standard understanding of confidentiality in research. Public availability of participant data compromises confidentiality, as does sharing data without appropriate anonymization or participant consent. Additionally, allowing all stakeholders access to participants' information directly contradicts the concept of confidentiality, which aims to protect participant privacy and maintain ethical standards in research.