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Cited by 653Qualitative Research Methods and EthicsData Analysis and ArchivingFocus Groups and Qualitative Methods

Anonymising interview data: challenges and compromise in practice

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Saunders, Benjamin, Kitzinger, Jenny, Kitzinger, Celia·2015·Qualitative Research
DOI 10.1177/1468794114550439PMC PMC4582834
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Abstract

Anonymising qualitative research data can be challenging, especially in highly sensitive contexts such as catastrophic brain injury and end-of-life decision-making. Using examples from in-depth interviews with family members of people in vegetative and minimally conscious states, this article discusses the issues we faced in trying to maximise participant anonymity alongside maintaining the integrity of our data. We discuss how we developed elaborate, context-sensitive strategies to try to preserve the richness of the interview material wherever possible while also protecting participants. This discussion of the practical and ethical details of anonymising is designed to add to the largely theoretical literature on this topic and to be of illustrative use to other researchers confronting similar dilemmas.

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  • Ensuring anonymizing and confidentiality is not straightforward and not a 'one size fits all' or 'find and replace' approach; it is a context-specific task requiring the researcher's carefulness and seriousness.

    “This discussion suggests that ensuring anonymizing and confidentiality is not straightforward and ''one size fits all' or 'find and replace' approach' (Saunders et al., 2014, p. 12); instead, it is a context-specific task which requires the researcher's carefulness and seriousness.”

    From Safeguarding Participants: Using Pseudonyms for Ensuring Confidentiality and Anonymity in Qualitative Research (2025) · cites this paper as Saunders et al., 2014

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Research works printed but not linked: 29

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Authors
Saunders, B., Kitzinger, J., & Kitzinger, C.
Affiliations
  • Keele University (GB)
  • Cardiff University (GB)
  • University of York (GB)
Corresponding author
Kitzinger, Celia
ORCID
Venue
Qualitative Research
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2014-09-23
Volume
15
Issue
5
Pages
616-632
ISSN
  • 1468-7941 (ISSN-L)
  • 1741-3109
DOI
10.1177/1468794114550439
PMC
PMC4582834
OpenAlex
W2170967419
Cited by
653
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 101 · 2025: 92 · 2024: 78 · 2023: 96 · 2022: 81 · 2021: 57 · 2020: 44 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 31 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 2
FWCI
44.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Qualitative Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ORCA Online Research @Cardiff (Cardiff University) (acceptedVersion)
  • Keele Research Repository (Keele University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust (097829/Z/11/A)
  • Centre for Chronic Diseases and Disorders
  • Economic and Social Research Council (ES/K00560X/1)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Data Analysis and Archiving
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Focus Groups and Qualitative Methods
Keywords
qualitative research ethics, data integrity, participant anonymity, vegetative state, minimally conscious state, end-of-life decisions, data protection

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