How does confidentiality differ from anonymity?

The distinction between confidentiality and anonymity is crucial in research ethics, especially in the context of communication research. The correct choice highlights that confidentiality means that while researchers are able to identify participants, they are prohibited from disclosing that identification to others outside of the research team. This ensures that the privacy of participants is maintained, as their identities remain protected even though the researchers might know who they are.

In research, maintaining confidentiality is essential for fostering trust between participants and researchers, as it encourages open and honest responses. When participants are assured that their identities will not be shared with others and that their data will be aggregated or presented without personal identifiers, they may feel more comfortable sharing sensitive information.

The other choices do not accurately represent the concept of confidentiality. Public disclosure of identities contradicts the principle of confidentiality, and suggesting that confidentiality is the same as anonymity ignores the key difference between the two. Additionally, confidentiality does not inherently violate ethical standards; in fact, upholding it is a fundamental ethical obligation in research involving human participants.