Which term refers to the assurance that a participant's personal information will be protected during research?

The term that refers to the assurance that a participant's personal information will be protected during research is confidentiality. This concept is fundamental in research ethics and involves the commitment by researchers to protect the identity and data of participants. When confidentiality is maintained, participants can share their views and information without fear of exposure, which encourages honest and open responses. Protecting personal information is critical for maintaining trust between researchers and participants, as well as for complying with ethical guidelines.

While transparency relates to the openness of the research process, accountability pertains to researchers being answerable for their actions in the study, and verifiability refers to the ability to check the data or findings. None of these terms specifically denote the protection of personal information in the same way that confidentiality does.