Which practice best aligns with data minimization in study design?

Which practice best aligns with data minimization in study design?

• A. Collect extensive personal data to allow future research.
• B. Collect only information essential to answer the research question.
• C. Preserve all data even if not used.
• D. Only store data in paper form.

Answer: (B)

Data minimization means you collect only the information necessary to answer your research question. This reduces privacy risks, lowers participant burden, and makes data handling simpler. In study design, identify exactly which variables are essential to test your hypothesis, and gather only those data. Use de-identification or coding to protect identities, and set clear retention rules so data aren’t kept longer than needed. If new data become necessary later, you can obtain additional consent or collect it in a privacy-conscious way rather than over collecting from the start. Collecting extensive personal data increases privacy risk and burden, preserving everything indefinitely adds unnecessary risk and storage needs, and storing data only on paper doesn’t address the scope of data collected.

Data minimization means you collect only the information necessary to answer your research question. This reduces privacy risks, lowers participant burden, and makes data handling simpler. In study design, identify exactly which variables are essential to test your hypothesis, and gather only those data. Use de-identification or coding to protect identities, and set clear retention rules so data aren’t kept longer than needed. If new data become necessary later, you can obtain additional consent or collect it in a privacy-conscious way rather than over collecting from the start.

Collecting extensive personal data increases privacy risk and burden, preserving everything indefinitely adds unnecessary risk and storage needs, and storing data only on paper doesn’t address the scope of data collected.