Certification for IRB Professionals (CIP) Practice Exam

The assertion that confidentiality is not guaranteed because the researcher cannot control what participants repeat about others is accurate in the context of focus groups. When participants engage in discussions around sensitive topics, they share personal and potentially touchy information. While researchers can implement measures to encourage confidentiality within the group, such as establishing ground rules and fostering an atmosphere of trust, it remains outside of their control to prevent participants from disclosing information outside of the group setting after the discussion has ended. This reflects a fundamental challenge in focus group methodology, where the interactive nature of discussions can lead to varying levels of information sharing among participants. Therefore, even though researchers can promote confidentiality, the reality is that once participants leave the session, they are free to communicate what has been shared, which makes absolute confidentiality unfeasible. By understanding this concept, researchers can better prepare participants for what to expect and emphasize the importance of discretion, thus ensuring that participants are aware of the limitations of confidentiality in such settings.