What ethical considerations should FLSEs keep in mind when collecting personal data during surveys?

• A. Share personal data with partners
• B. Never collect sensitive data
• C. Store data unencrypted
• D. Informed consent, privacy, minimize data collection, and secure storage

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is handling personal data ethically when conducting surveys. When you collect information, you must respect participants’ rights and reduce potential risk. Informed consent means people understand what you’re asking, why you’re asking, how the data will be used, who may see it, and that they can decline or withdraw at any time. Privacy focuses on protecting their identity and any sensitive details, so you avoid linking responses to individuals unless you have explicit permission. Data minimization means you gather only the information that’s truly necessary to answer your question or improve safety education, avoiding extra or overly sensitive data unless it’s essential. Secure storage ensures the data is protected from unauthorized access through measures like encryption, restricted access, and clear retention timelines so data isn’t kept longer than needed. Together, these practices build trust, uphold ethical standards, and reduce risks for both participants and the program.

Sharing data with partners without permission breaches privacy and consent. The idea of never collecting sensitive data isn’t practical in many surveys, and storing information unencrypted creates a clear security risk that contravenes proper data protection.