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The Palgrave Handbook of Ethics in Critical Research pp 241–256Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

To Be or Not to Be…Revealing Questions of Anonymity and Confidentiality

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Abstract

Researchers are constantly challenged in maintaining participants’ anonymity in social and health research. Challenges arise when participants’ request to relinquish anonymity or can be recognised in published material. In this chapter, I consider possible circumstances and conditions where researchers might forego disguising or concealing participants’ identity. Three examples are presented. In the first, the participant requested her identity be revealed in a case study where Poetry Therapy was used for anxiety about spinal surgery. The consequences of divulging participants’ identities in community-based research are considered through two studies where participants’ identities are revealed at their request or inadvertently. The latter are considered in relation to participants’ agency, context, and forms where identity is disclosed. Principles of community and individual consent around anonymity are discussed.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Ethical clearance from University of KwaZulu-Natal Biomedical Ethics Research Committee BE122/14.

  2. 2.

    Ethical clearance from University of KwaZulu-Natal Humanities and Social Sciences Ethics Committee HSS/0504/090.

  3. 3.

    Ethical clearance from University of KwaZulu-Natal Humanities and Social Sciences Ethics Committee HSS/0186/014.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the participants in the three research studies whose actions and agency challenged me to reconsider accepted research ethics conventions in the field . I would also like to thank my colleagues Sifiso Shabangu, Yvonne Sliep, and Neil Prose who collaborated with me on the three different projects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

    Thirusha Naidu

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  1. Thirusha Naidu
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Correspondence to Thirusha Naidu .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Critical Studies in Sexualities and Reproduction, Department of Psychology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa

    Catriona Ida Macleod

  2. Critical Studies in Sexualities and Reproduction, Department of Psychology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa

    Jacqueline Marx

  3. Department of History, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa

    Phindezwa Mnyaka

  4. Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Gareth J. Treharne

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Naidu, T. (2018). To Be or Not to Be…Revealing Questions of Anonymity and Confidentiality. In: Macleod, C., Marx, J., Mnyaka, P., Treharne, G. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Ethics in Critical Research. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74721-7_16

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