To reduce risks of harm in an online survey, what strategy should a researcher employ?

Designing the survey to avoid collecting any identifiers is indeed a crucial strategy to mitigate risks of harm when conducting online surveys. This approach ensures that participants remain anonymous, which helps to protect their privacy and encourages them to respond honestly without the fear of identification or potential repercussions. Anonymity is particularly important in sensitive research contexts, such as studies involving vulnerable populations or topics that could lead to stigmatization.

By not collecting identifiers, researchers reduce the likelihood of personal data being exposed in the event of a data breach, which can lead to harm for participants if their information were to be made public. This practice also enhances the ethical integrity of the research, as it aligns with principles of confidentiality and respect for participants' autonomy.

While including demographic questions can help in data analysis, it may inadvertently collect information that could identify participants. Requiring email addresses can create a risk of linking responses to specific individuals, which is counterproductive to safeguarding participant anonymity. Limiting the survey to one question may oversimplify the research goals and does not inherently minimize risk. Therefore, avoiding the collection of identifiers is the most effective strategy for reducing risks of harm in an online survey.