What challenge might researchers face in maintaining confidentiality?

Maintaining confidentiality is a crucial aspect of research ethics, and the choice of storing data securely directly addresses this concern. When researchers collect sensitive information from participants, they must ensure that this data is protected from unauthorized access or breaches. This involves implementing robust security measures, such as encryption, secure servers, and limited access to sensitive information.

If data is not stored securely, there is a substantial risk that it could be exposed or mishandled, leading to potential harm to participants. Such breaches can compromise the trust participants place in researchers and can have legal and ethical implications for the research institution. Therefore, securely storing data is a fundamental challenge that researchers must navigate to uphold the confidentiality of their participants' information.

The other options, while relevant to different aspects of the research process, do not directly pertain to the challenge of maintaining confidentiality in the same way. For instance, participant consent is about informing and gaining agreement from individuals before participation, and recruiting participants focuses on getting enough individuals to take part in the study. Publishing results relates to disseminating findings rather than the protection of individual identities and sensitive information.