Question

Distinguish anonymity from confidentiality and provide examples of how each can be protected during research.

Answer 1

Providing anonymity of information collected from research participants means that either the project does not collect identifying information of individual subjects or the project cannot link individual responses with participants' identities. On the other hand, maintaining confidentiality of information collected from research participants means that only the investigator(s) or individuals of the research team can identify the responses of individual subjects.

Let us assume that an individual is conducting a survey to measure satisfaction of customers. When anonymity is provided, only response data will be collected. The names, numbers, e-mail addresses or any information with respect to their identity will not be asked. If the same survey aims to protect confidentiality, these participant identify-related questions will be asked but will be kept safeguarded.