In behavioral research, what constitutes a breach of confidentiality?

A breach of confidentiality in behavioral research occurs when identifiable data is improperly stored, leading to the risk of unauthorized access or disclosure of personal information about participants. Confidentiality is a crucial aspect of ethical research practices, as it ensures that participants' privacy is protected and that their identifiable information cannot be traced back to them. Proper storage protocols must be in place to safeguard sensitive information, including secure databases and restricted access controls. If identifiable data is not stored correctly, it can lead to unauthorized individuals gaining access to personal details, thereby violating the trust participants place in researchers and potentially causing them harm.

The other options do not constitute a breach of confidentiality. Widely published research findings may not reveal identifiable information if done appropriately, consenting without proper information pertains to the informed consent process, and loss of non-identifiable data does not affect participant confidentiality since that data cannot be traced back to any individual.