In a longitudinal study collecting information on illegal activities, what confidentiality procedure helps prevent compelled disclosure?

The correct choice highlights the importance of legal protections for data collected in research, particularly when sensitive topics like illegal activities are involved. A Certificate of Confidentiality is specifically designed to protect the privacy of research participants by legally preventing researchers from being compelled to disclose personal information about participants, even in instances where there might be a legal obligation to do so.

This certificate is crucial in longitudinal studies involving illegal activities because it assures participants that their responses will not be shared with authorities, which may encourage more honest reporting and participation. It effectively adds a layer of legal protection that reinforces the confidentiality measures researchers implement.

While informed consent is essential for ethical research practices, it does not inherently prevent disclosure in legal contexts. De-identified data practices aim to minimize risk but do not guarantee that information remains confidential if re-identified or if certain identifiers remain. Finally, strict data access controls are important for managing who can see sensitive data but do not provide legal protection against subpoenas or court orders, unlike a Certificate of Confidentiality. Therefore, the choice that directly addresses the risk of compelled disclosure is the Certificate of Confidentiality.