Question

No consent needed? In which of the circumstances listed here would you allow

collecting personal information without the subjects’ consent?

a. A government agency takes a random sample of income tax returns to obtain

information on the average income of people in different occupations. Only the

incomes and occupations are recorded from the returns, not the names.

b. A social psychologist attends public meetings of a religious group to study the

behavior patterns of its members.

c. A social psychologist pretends to be converted to membership in a religious group and

attends private meetings to study the behavior patterns of its members.

Short answer

The answers could be

(a) Yes A government agency takes a random sample of income tax returns to obtain information on the average income of people in different occupations

(b) No,A social psychologist attends public meetings of a religious group to study the behavior patterns of its members.

c) No,A social psychologist pretends to be converted to membership in a religious group and attends private meetings to study the behavior patterns of its members.

Step-by-step solution

Part (a) Step 1: Given information

We have to tell our views collecting personal information without the subjects’ consent occupations are recorded from the returns, not the names.

Part (a) Step 2: Explanation

It will be extremely difficult (almost impossible) to ascertain the identification of the person who corresponds to a single income and single occupation based on the incomes and occupations. As a result, anonymity should be guaranteed, allowing personal data to be obtained without the individuals' consent.

Part (b) Step 1: Given information

We have to tell our views collecting personal information attends public meetings of a religious group to study the behavior patterns of its members.

Part (b) Step 2: Explanation

Because the anonymity of those attending religious group public meetings cannot be guaranteed, personal information should not be collected without the subjects' consent.

Part (c) Step 1: Given information

We have to tell about the membership in a religious group andattends private meetings to study the behavior patterns of its members.

Part (c) Step 2: Explanation

Because the anonymity of those attending private religious group meetings cannot be guaranteed, personal information should not be collected without the subjects' consent.