Question

Which of the following constitutes both a breach of confidentiality (the research data have been disclosed, counter to the agreement between researcher and subjects) and a violation of subjects’ privacy (the right of the individuals to be protected against intrusion into their personal lives or affairs)? In order to eliminate the effect of observation on behavior, a researcher attends a support group and records interactions without informing the attendees. A researcher asks cocaine users to provide names and contact information of other cocaine users who might qualify for a study. A faculty member makes identifiable data about sexual behavior available to graduate students, although the subjects were assured that the data would be de-identified. A researcher, who is a guest, audio-records conversations at a series of private dinner parties to assess gender roles, without informing participants.

Answer 1

The correct answer is : A faculty member makes identifiable data about sexual behavior available to graduate students, although the subjects were assured that the data would be de-identified.

This is a breach of confidentiality and a violation of the subjects' privacy. The faculty member has broken the confidentiality agreement with the subjects by disclosing private information about the subjects to his students by making the subjects no longer anonymous but identifiable.

All the others are a violation of subjects' privacy but no breach of confidentiality has taken place as there has been no agreement of confidentiality between the researcher and the subjects.