Importance Of Confidentiality In Research

Additionally, confidentiality is an important ethical principal in social work research as its misuse can lead to potential harm for the participants, especially the vulnerable groups. Confidentiality is a term that ensures the protection of the participant’s identity in reports or externally published works by avoiding collection of characteristics, events or detail that make it possible to recognize the individual. Furthermore, Kimmel (1998) reported the long term negative consequences of published data, which can cause a sense of betrayal to participants when they find their information is used for purposes unknown about at the start of the process (McLaughlin 2006, 64). According to Corti, Day & Backhouse(2000) the problem could be solved if

researchers explained in clear and understandable language on the intended use for the data, and gain a consent through writing. Furthermore, many Medical Research Ethics Committees demand for researchers to include consent for each step of the data and ensuring the data is destroyed on completion of project. Addtionallu, confidentiality poses questions such as whether all participants have equal rights to privacy and the expectation of the researcher to cover all privacy circumstances. According to Lincoln and Gubba (1998) confidentiality and anonymity cannot be guaranteed in research situation. The example given by Shaw (2003) is the William Whyte’s Street Corner study whereby after 60 years for the 1981 edition, William felt relaxed to disclose the names of some of the main characters. However, despite the lengthened time period, the rules of confidentiality remained resulting in criticisms by both surviving members of the street gangs and the academics. Thus, it is evident, despite the historical context, the confidentiality promised initially to the participate needs to be prioritised (SHAW 2003, p.15).
The damaging effect of confidentiality is also discussed by Pittaway(2010) who states in the context of refugees, researchers can cause unattended harm to participants through inappropriate disclosure of identities or other personal information such as stories or photograph despite being published in another country or language.

Additionally, sometimes refugees undergo life-threatening risks to disclose information otherwise deemed inappropriate by the camps to the researcher, e.g. in the case of Bangladeshi refugees who participated in a research and were threatened by the criminals in the camps resulting in intervention from the authority. In order to balance such dilemma, the reciprocal method should be adapted. Founded on the principal of reciprocity, the method suggests that the risk and cost associate with participation in research should result in tangible and advantageous results for the participants. Thus, researchers should provide the community with negotiation such being provided with training and project support (Pittaway, Bartolomei & Hugman, 2010). Thus as constituted, confidentiality is important in social wor research as giving contextual situation can result in harmful situation for the

participant.