An Investigation of Respondent Confidentiality Concerns in Army Surveys: Data from Ten Focus Groups

This research sought information on whether soldiers believe the assurance confidentiality they receive in a standard Army survey and, if not, what reasons they give for not believing it. Participants n40, meeting in small homogeneous groups, completed a standard Army survey that asked questions on six topics of varying sensitivity. These same participants also completed a 3-item questionnaire asking about any confidentiality concerns they may have had while filling out the survey. Then, with their completed survey forms in front of them, they took part in a focus group discussion to elaborate on these concerns. This report summarizes the discussions and offers recommendations for further research. Confidentiality, Privacy, Anonymity, Survey. Focus groups,