CITI Program
ZIUQ · ITIC
C Research Ethics & Compliance Training
★ ★
EST. 2000
A D V A N C I N G K N O W L E D G E T O I M P R O V E H U M A N H E A LT H
CITI Training Quiz
H U M A N S U BJ E CTS R E S E A R C H , I R B P R OTO CO LS , P R I VACY & CO N F I D E N T I A L I TY
INSTITUTION CITI Program PROGRAM Human Subjects Research (HSR) Training
COURSE CITI Training — Social & Behavioral Research ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TYPE Quiz Answers — Verified Solutions TOTAL QUESTIONS 38 Questions
CONTENT AREAS IRB, Belmont Report, Informed Consent, Privacy, Data Security FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Topics: Online survey research, informed consent, IRB review types, Belmont Report principles, privacy/confidentiality, vulnerable populations, adverse event
reporting, certificates of confidentiality.
▸ All content derived from CITI Program training modules on human subjects research protections.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question.
SECTION I — CITI TRAINING COMPREHENSIVE QUIZ Questions 1 – 38
1. To minimize potential risks of harm, a researcher conducting an online survey can take which action?
A. Collect IP addresses to verify participant identity
B. Design the survey so that no direct or indirect identifiers are collected
C. Require participants to provide their email addresses
D. Post identifiable data publicly to demonstrate transparency
CORRECT ANSWER B — Design the survey so that no direct or indirect identifiers are collected
RATIONALE Minimizing risk in online surveys begins with data minimization — collecting NO identifiers (direct or indirect) whenever possible. If no
identifiers are collected, the data cannot be linked back to individual subjects, significantly reducing privacy and confidentiality risks.
Collecting IP addresses, email addresses, or publicly posting data all INCREASE risk.
2. What method could be considered a "best practice" for informing respondents how their answers to an online survey about personal
information will be protected?
A. The researcher guarantees absolute confidentiality since the internet is secure
B. The investigator uses informed consent to explain how data will be transmitted to an encrypted database without recording IP addresses, but
explains that on the internet, confidentiality cannot be absolutely guaranteed
C. The researcher states that no data protection measures are needed for online surveys
D. The investigator avoids mentioning any privacy risks to prevent alarming respondents
CORRECT ANSWER B — The investigator uses informed consent to explain how data will be transmitted to an encrypted database without recording IP
addresses, but explains that on the internet, confidentiality cannot be absolutely guaranteed
RATIONALE Best practice is TRANSPARENCY — the researcher should explain the specific protections in place (encryption, no IP logging) while
HONESTLY acknowledging that absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed on the internet. Promising absolute confidentiality is
misleading and unethical. Avoiding discussion of risks violates informed consent requirements.
, 3. Consent to participate in research is an ongoing process. Which strategy would help ensure that participation in a survey about a sensitive
personal topic remains voluntary throughout a study?
A. Requiring subjects to complete all questions before submission
B. Designing the survey so that subjects are not forced to answer one question before going to the next
C. Not allowing subjects to exit the survey once started
D. Offering large financial incentives for completion
CORRECT ANSWER B — Designing the survey so that subjects are not forced to answer one question before going to the next
RATIONALE Allowing subjects to SKIP questions without penalty respects their ongoing autonomy — they can choose how much information to
disclose. Forcing answers or preventing exit creates coercion. Large incentives may constitute undue influence. The ability to skip
questions reinforces that participation is truly voluntary throughout the study.
4. Which of the following online research strategies raises the MOST concerns regarding the ethical principle of respecting the autonomy of
research subjects and the corresponding federal regulations requiring informed consent?
A. Posting an online survey link on a public forum
B. A researcher proposes to join a moderated support group for cancer survivors, posing as a survivor, and plans to insert comments to see how
members respond
C. Analyzing publicly available tweets about a health topic
D. Sending recruitment emails to a purchased mailing list
CORRECT ANSWER B — A researcher proposes to join a moderated support group for cancer survivors, posing as a survivor, and plans to insert
comments to see how members respond
RATIONALE This is DECEPTIVE research — the researcher is concealing their identity and purpose. This violates: (1) AUTONOMY — subjects cannot
make informed decisions about participation when they are being deceived; (2) INFORMED CONSENT — subjects do not know they are
part of a study. Deception in online communities is particularly problematic because members expect privacy and trust within support
groups. Public data analysis and transparent surveys do not raise these concerns.
5. Which of the following examples of using the internet to conduct research meets the federal definition of research with human subjects?
A. Analyzing publicly available Census data
B. Conducting an online focus group with cancer survivors to determine familial support systems, and also inviting subjects' significant others to
be part of the focus group
C. Searching a public database of corporate financial records
D. Analyzing de-identified medical records from a national database
CORRECT ANSWER B — Conducting an online focus group with cancer survivors to determine familial support systems, and also inviting subjects'
significant others to be part of the focus group
RATIONALE This meets the definition of human subjects research because the researcher is: (1) conducting research (systematic investigation
designed to contribute to generalizable knowledge), AND (2) obtaining data through INTERVENTION/interaction with LIVING INDIVIDUALS.
Public data analysis and de-identified data do not meet the "human subjects" definition because the researcher is not interacting with
living individuals or obtaining identifiable private information.
ZIUQ · ITIC
C Research Ethics & Compliance Training
★ ★
EST. 2000
A D V A N C I N G K N O W L E D G E T O I M P R O V E H U M A N H E A LT H
CITI Training Quiz
H U M A N S U BJ E CTS R E S E A R C H , I R B P R OTO CO LS , P R I VACY & CO N F I D E N T I A L I TY
INSTITUTION CITI Program PROGRAM Human Subjects Research (HSR) Training
COURSE CITI Training — Social & Behavioral Research ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TYPE Quiz Answers — Verified Solutions TOTAL QUESTIONS 38 Questions
CONTENT AREAS IRB, Belmont Report, Informed Consent, Privacy, Data Security FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Topics: Online survey research, informed consent, IRB review types, Belmont Report principles, privacy/confidentiality, vulnerable populations, adverse event
reporting, certificates of confidentiality.
▸ All content derived from CITI Program training modules on human subjects research protections.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question.
SECTION I — CITI TRAINING COMPREHENSIVE QUIZ Questions 1 – 38
1. To minimize potential risks of harm, a researcher conducting an online survey can take which action?
A. Collect IP addresses to verify participant identity
B. Design the survey so that no direct or indirect identifiers are collected
C. Require participants to provide their email addresses
D. Post identifiable data publicly to demonstrate transparency
CORRECT ANSWER B — Design the survey so that no direct or indirect identifiers are collected
RATIONALE Minimizing risk in online surveys begins with data minimization — collecting NO identifiers (direct or indirect) whenever possible. If no
identifiers are collected, the data cannot be linked back to individual subjects, significantly reducing privacy and confidentiality risks.
Collecting IP addresses, email addresses, or publicly posting data all INCREASE risk.
2. What method could be considered a "best practice" for informing respondents how their answers to an online survey about personal
information will be protected?
A. The researcher guarantees absolute confidentiality since the internet is secure
B. The investigator uses informed consent to explain how data will be transmitted to an encrypted database without recording IP addresses, but
explains that on the internet, confidentiality cannot be absolutely guaranteed
C. The researcher states that no data protection measures are needed for online surveys
D. The investigator avoids mentioning any privacy risks to prevent alarming respondents
CORRECT ANSWER B — The investigator uses informed consent to explain how data will be transmitted to an encrypted database without recording IP
addresses, but explains that on the internet, confidentiality cannot be absolutely guaranteed
RATIONALE Best practice is TRANSPARENCY — the researcher should explain the specific protections in place (encryption, no IP logging) while
HONESTLY acknowledging that absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed on the internet. Promising absolute confidentiality is
misleading and unethical. Avoiding discussion of risks violates informed consent requirements.
, 3. Consent to participate in research is an ongoing process. Which strategy would help ensure that participation in a survey about a sensitive
personal topic remains voluntary throughout a study?
A. Requiring subjects to complete all questions before submission
B. Designing the survey so that subjects are not forced to answer one question before going to the next
C. Not allowing subjects to exit the survey once started
D. Offering large financial incentives for completion
CORRECT ANSWER B — Designing the survey so that subjects are not forced to answer one question before going to the next
RATIONALE Allowing subjects to SKIP questions without penalty respects their ongoing autonomy — they can choose how much information to
disclose. Forcing answers or preventing exit creates coercion. Large incentives may constitute undue influence. The ability to skip
questions reinforces that participation is truly voluntary throughout the study.
4. Which of the following online research strategies raises the MOST concerns regarding the ethical principle of respecting the autonomy of
research subjects and the corresponding federal regulations requiring informed consent?
A. Posting an online survey link on a public forum
B. A researcher proposes to join a moderated support group for cancer survivors, posing as a survivor, and plans to insert comments to see how
members respond
C. Analyzing publicly available tweets about a health topic
D. Sending recruitment emails to a purchased mailing list
CORRECT ANSWER B — A researcher proposes to join a moderated support group for cancer survivors, posing as a survivor, and plans to insert
comments to see how members respond
RATIONALE This is DECEPTIVE research — the researcher is concealing their identity and purpose. This violates: (1) AUTONOMY — subjects cannot
make informed decisions about participation when they are being deceived; (2) INFORMED CONSENT — subjects do not know they are
part of a study. Deception in online communities is particularly problematic because members expect privacy and trust within support
groups. Public data analysis and transparent surveys do not raise these concerns.
5. Which of the following examples of using the internet to conduct research meets the federal definition of research with human subjects?
A. Analyzing publicly available Census data
B. Conducting an online focus group with cancer survivors to determine familial support systems, and also inviting subjects' significant others to
be part of the focus group
C. Searching a public database of corporate financial records
D. Analyzing de-identified medical records from a national database
CORRECT ANSWER B — Conducting an online focus group with cancer survivors to determine familial support systems, and also inviting subjects'
significant others to be part of the focus group
RATIONALE This meets the definition of human subjects research because the researcher is: (1) conducting research (systematic investigation
designed to contribute to generalizable knowledge), AND (2) obtaining data through INTERVENTION/interaction with LIVING INDIVIDUALS.
Public data analysis and de-identified data do not meet the "human subjects" definition because the researcher is not interacting with
living individuals or obtaining identifiable private information.
