What principle underlies the obligation to protect the privacy of research participants?

The obligation to protect the privacy of research participants is fundamentally rooted in the principle of maintaining confidentiality of personal data. This principle recognizes the importance of respecting the individual's right to privacy and the need to safeguard their personal information from unauthorized access or disclosure. Confidentiality ensures that identifiable data is not shared in a way that could harm participants or breach their trust, which is essential for ethical research practices.

In research ethics, protecting participants' privacy helps to foster a safe environment where individuals feel confident in providing truthful and accurate information. This promotes the integrity of the research process and contributes to the reliability of the data collected. By prioritizing confidentiality, researchers uphold ethical standards, comply with legal obligations, and maintain the trust of the community.

Other options, such as maximizing research funding, enhancing public relations, or creating a database of participants, do not directly relate to the ethical obligation to protect individual privacy and confidentiality. These factors may influence research practices or funding decisions, but they do not capture the core ethical responsibility researchers have in safeguarding participants' personal information.