The Dean of Students at Mountain Tech is interested in finding out how prevalent

Question

The Dean of Students at Mountain Tech is interested in finding out how prevalent cheating is. She sends a questionnaire to 1,000 randomly chosen students and receives 700 replies. Those asked to fill out the questionnaire are told not to put their names on either the questionnaire or on the return envelope. Thus, no one in the Dean's office has any idea who sent in which response. After the replies are processed, statistics describing the entire sample are published, but no one outside the Dean's office is allowed to see individual questionnaires. This survey is A. neither anonymous nor confidential.

B. anonymous, but not necessarily confidential.

C. both anonymous and confidential.

D. confidential, but not necessarily anonymous.

Explanation / Answer

C. both anonymous and confidential.

Confidentiality vs. anonymity – In the data collection process, when researchers are trying to obtain information from survey participants, they frequently indicate that the survey will be conducted anonymously or confidentially.  There are distinct differences between the two terms and the researcher should be clear on the meaning of each, as they are very important for the protection of the participant.  It is also important to remember that a study, with only one data collection method, cannot be both confidential and anonymous.  

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