Participants’ right to privacy refers to keeping all identifying information of the participants anonymous. The right to privacy is critical in cases where participants have provided sensitive information that, if released, could link back to them personally. To ensure participants’ identities remain anonymous, the researcher can:

 

• Assign pseudonyms to keep identity confidential

• Store data in a secure location (e.g., password protected computer, locked file cabinet) only accessible by the researcher(s)

• Aggregate the data (e.g., useful in a large-scale survey), and

• Destroy data upon completion of the research.

 

The level of protection of privacy needs to be included in the informed consent statement. Having this level of protection stated clearly in the informed consent form will ensure participants are aware of what will happen to the information they provide before they agree to participate in the study.

 

Some examples of SoTL research where participants may want their information to be private would include: information on students’ study habits, students’ personal grades, and content or quality of student work.

 
By maintaining participants’ right to privacy you are reducing the risk of social and psychological harm.

 

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