Which practice best protects privacy in online surveys?

Which practice best protects privacy in online surveys?

• A. Collecting IP addresses and storing with data.
• B. Using encryption and not logging IP addresses.
• C. Sharing data with third parties without notice.
• D. Forcing participants to provide identifiers.

Answer: (B)

Protecting privacy in online surveys hinges on limiting identifiable data and securing information as it’s collected, stored, and transmitted. Using encryption protects data from interception and unauthorized access, and not logging IP addresses helps prevent tying responses to a specific device or person. Together, these practices minimize the risk that someone could identify a participant from their survey responses, which is a core goal of ethical research and data protection. Collecting IP addresses and storing them with the data increases privacy risks because it creates a direct link between responses and the participant. Sharing data with third parties without notice violates consent and can expose sensitive information to additional risks. Forcing participants to provide identifiers removes anonymity and can bias responses.

Protecting privacy in online surveys hinges on limiting identifiable data and securing information as it’s collected, stored, and transmitted. Using encryption protects data from interception and unauthorized access, and not logging IP addresses helps prevent tying responses to a specific device or person. Together, these practices minimize the risk that someone could identify a participant from their survey responses, which is a core goal of ethical research and data protection.

Collecting IP addresses and storing them with the data increases privacy risks because it creates a direct link between responses and the participant. Sharing data with third parties without notice violates consent and can expose sensitive information to additional risks. Forcing participants to provide identifiers removes anonymity and can bias responses.