What is a potential consequence of failing to maintain confidentiality in research?

Maintaining confidentiality in research is critical to uphold ethical standards and protect the rights of participants. When confidentiality is not properly maintained, one significant consequence can be the loss of trust in the researcher. Participants expect that their personal information will be handled with care and kept private. If they feel that their confidentiality might be compromised, they may be less willing to participate in the research or to share sensitive information, leading to a breakdown in the relationship between the researcher and participant.

In addition to the overarching issue of trust, a loss of trust can extend beyond individual relationships to influence public perception of researchers and research integrity as a whole, potentially making it harder to recruit participants in future studies. While there could be negative impacts on participant retention and data quality as a result of a breach in confidentiality, the fundamental issue revolves around the trust relationship that is paramount for ethical research practices.