When a focus group deals with a potentially sensitive topic, which of the following statements about providing confidentiality to focus group participants is correct?
A. Using pseudonyms in reports removes the concern about any confidences shared in the group.
B. If group participants sign confidentiality agreements, the researcher can guarantee confidentiality.
C. If group members know each other confidentiality is not an issue.
D. The researcher cannot control what participants repeat about others outside the group.
The correct answer is:
D. The researcher cannot control what participants repeat about others outside the group.
While researchers can encourage confidentiality and ask participants to sign confidentiality agreements, they cannot fully control or guarantee that participants will not share information outside the group. This is particularly important to acknowledge when dealing with sensitive topics.