After Reading This Chapter, You Will: Know what confidentiality entails and why it is important in research Become familiar with techniques of securing confidentiality Understand the difference between anonymity and confidentiality Be able to identify breaches of confidentiality

After Reading This Chapter, You Will: Better comprehend what research ethics is about Understand why research ethics is an integral part of doing research in the social sciences Be able to distinguish between research ethics and professional ethics Develop a general knowledge of the three most important theories of ethics

Let’s start with you. The audience for this work is you, a student in the social sciences. Many of the problems discussed in this book will probably be new to you, perhaps not entirely, but still. Yet, right from the beginning of your studies, you have been confronted with certain demands, regulations, and procedures, all driven by certain ethical considerations that you’re supposed to be aware of and adopt. You’re supposed to be trustworthy, reliable, honest, impartial, and objective if you want to call yourself a researcher. Ah yes, but how? It seems you’ve got some catching up to do.