When a focus group deals with a potentially sensitive topic, which of the following statements about providing confidentiality to focus group participants is correct?

when a focus group deals with a potentially sensitive topic, which of the following statements about providing confidentiality to focus group participants is correct?

when a focus group deals with a potentially sensitive topic, which of the following statements about providing confidentiality to focus group participants is correct?

Answer: The statement “The researcher cannot control what participants repeat about others outside the group” is generally correct when it comes to providing confidentiality to focus group participants, particularly when discussing potentially sensitive topics. Confidentiality is an essential ethical principle in research, and it means that participants’ identities and individual responses should be kept private and not disclosed to others.

In the context of focus groups, here’s what this statement means:

  1. Confidentiality within the Group: Researchers should ensure that participants feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, experiences, and opinions during the focus group discussion. This often involves assuring participants that their individual responses will not be attributed to them personally within the group. In other words, what is said in the group stays in the group.

  2. Limitations on External Disclosure: While researchers can control and enforce confidentiality within the group, they cannot control what participants choose to disclose to others outside the group. If participants choose to share what was discussed in the focus group with friends, family members, or others, the researcher cannot prevent or control that disclosure.

  3. Informed Consent: Researchers typically inform participants about the limitations of confidentiality during the informed consent process. Participants should be aware that while the research team will do its best to protect their privacy within the group, they have a degree of responsibility for what they choose to share with others.

It’s important for researchers to be transparent with participants about the scope of confidentiality and any potential limitations. This transparency helps build trust and ensures that participants make informed decisions about their involvement in the research, especially when discussing sensitive topics. Researchers should also take steps to minimize the risk of inadvertent disclosure, such as avoiding the use of personally identifiable information when reporting findings.