ABSTRACT

Conditions of anonymity, confidentiality and privacy are included in every informed consent form. Their presence is widely thought essential to protect subjects from harm, specifically with regard to preventing the dissemination of sensitive, attributable information. This chapter examines the soundness of reasons for the inclusion of these conditions in systems of research ethics, but also urges researchers critically to consider the particular meanings and purposes of the concepts as they are applied in a range of research contexts. As a general norm, confidentiality, for example, is at odds with the idea that research is to be disseminated and generalised. Nevertheless, there are situations where confidentiality is required, for instance in focus group work, or in health-care situations and in consultancy contexts.