The second is a person s right not to be given information that he or she does not want, i.e., HIV testing results, standardized testing scores , etc. Anonymity provides excellent protection of privacy. Anonymity means that the identity of participants is not attached to the data, and can never be inferred from the data through any means, i.e., social security numbers, addresses, etc. Confidentiality refers to agreements with persons as to what may be done with their data. Researchers should refrain from sharing private information with others, unless authorized by the participant, or some other justification.
Authorization is obtained through the informed consent process.
Confidentiality is becoming increasingly hard to maintain. The best safeguard is to be well-informed about the law, understand the limits to confidentiality, have a well formed consent agreement, and understand techniques that protect data and preserve the participant s anonymity and privacy. The trusting relationship between the researcher and participants, established during the informed consent process, should be maintained as the research unfolds. The research team should continue to foster trust by treating research participants and research assistants as respected partners in the research. Safety of Participants Federal regulations require that When appropriate, the research plan makes adequate provision for monitoring data collected to ensure safety of subjects.