What is the difference between conducting research anonymously versus confidentially?
A study is anonymous if you are NOT recording identifying information (i.e. names, adress, etc.) or detailed demographic information (i.e. race, age, income, educational degree, job title, etc.) about study participants. A study is confidential if you are recording identifying information about your participants. In both cases you can assign codes to your participants. If the code is random (cannot be linked back to the subject), it would be anonymous. If the code can be linked back to the subject, the data would be confidential. Q20: We have a study that uses data and/or specimens that were collected as part of another research protocol. We are able to link the data and/or specimens to the participants. Does this qualify for exempt or expedited review? A: Neither. To qualify for exempt status, the existing data must be anonymous (no one on the research team can link data to the participant). To qualify for expedited review, the data must have been collected for purposes other than res
