What can a researcher do to minimize potential risks of harm in an online survey?

In the context of minimizing potential risks of harm in an online survey, avoiding the collection of direct or indirect identifiers is a crucial strategy. This approach protects the privacy of participants and minimizes the chance of identifying individuals through the data collected. When researchers refrain from asking for information that could link responses to specific individuals, they significantly reduce the possibility of adverse outcomes related to privacy breaches, stigma, or negative consequences of participation.

Collecting detailed personal information, as suggested in one of the options, could lead to heightened risks because it increases the likelihood that sensitive data could be exposed or misused. Conducting a survey without obtaining consent undermines ethical standards and can lead to participants feeling violated or unprotected, thus increasing risk rather than minimizing it. Providing a pre-survey questionnaire does not inherently address the risks associated with data collection and may not adequately safeguard participant information.

By consciously avoiding direct or indirect identifiers, researchers can create a more secure environment for participants, ensuring that they feel safe engaging with the research process, which is fundamental to ethical research practices.