What was the primary ethical violation in the Harvard "Tastes, Ties, and Time (T3)" study?

The primary ethical violation in the Harvard "Tastes, Ties, and Time (T3)" study relates to the failure to protect subjects from deductive disclosure. This means that the researchers did not adequately safeguard individuals' private information, potentially allowing others to infer or deduce sensitive details about the participants based on the data collected. Deductive disclosure can occur when unique combinations of data points about individual participants are released, which could lead to identifying them or revealing their private circumstances even if their names are not directly disclosed.

In studies involving sensitive information or vulnerable populations, it is crucial to implement robust measures to prevent any likelihood of participants being identified, as this protects their privacy rights and maintains ethical standards. This ethical concern emphasizes the necessity of researchers using careful consideration and protective strategies when handling participant data.