Confidentiality ethical obligation – UGC NET Question

Confidentiality means that information provided by participants is kept secure and is not revealed in a way that would allow individuals to be identified without their permission. Researchers may use codes instead of names and limit access to raw data. This obligation builds trust and protects participants from potential harm resulting from disclosure. Thus, the duty described in the stem is called confidentiality.

Option A:
Anonymity means that even the researcher cannot link data to specific individuals, which is stronger than confidentiality but not always feasible in every study. The stem focuses on the obligation to keep identities private, which more generally describes confidentiality.

Option B:
Confidentiality requires researchers to store data safely, restrict access and report findings in aggregate or masked form. It assures participants that their personal information will not be misused, which fits the idea of not disclosing identities and makes this option correct.

Option C:
Deception involves deliberately withholding or misrepresenting information during a study, which is sometimes used but must be justified and followed by debriefing; it is not about protecting privacy.

Option D:
Replication refers to repeating a study to see whether its results are consistent and has nothing to do with how participants’ data are kept private, so it is not appropriate here.