Confidentiality in research refers to what obligation?

Confidentiality in research fundamentally refers to the obligation of researchers to use disclosed information appropriately. This means that any data or personal information provided by participants must be handled with care and protected from unauthorized access or misuse. Researchers have a responsibility to ensure that information about participants is not disclosed in a way that can identify them publicly. This obligation encompasses not only the protection of the data itself but also the ethical use of this information throughout the research process and in any resulting publications.

While other options touch upon related aspects of research ethics, they do not accurately capture the essence of confidentiality. For instance, sharing findings with everyone does not align with the principle of confidentiality, as it could compromise the anonymity or privacy of participants. Similarly, while the rights of participants to remain anonymous is an important consideration, it is more about anonymity than the broader concept of confidentiality, which includes using the information appropriately as well. Lastly, requiring researchers to publish all data collected contradicts confidentiality, as it would likely involve sharing sensitive information that should be kept private.