What is meant by 'minimal risk' in social/behavioral research, and which example best illustrates it?

What is meant by 'minimal risk' in social/behavioral research, and which example best illustrates it?

• A. A risk no greater than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or during routine examinations; example: completing a private survey about personal attitudes with responses kept confidential
• B. A risk involving potential physical harm that requires medical intervention
• C. Only financial risk
• D. A risk that would require hospitalization

Answer: (A)

Minimal risk means the chance and magnitude of harm in a study are no greater than what people encounter in daily life or during routine exams. In social and behavioral research, many studies involve surveys or interviews about attitudes or behaviors, where the main concern is protecting privacy. When responses are kept confidential, the potential risk is mainly about privacy, which is similar to ordinary life experiences and manageable with safeguards. The description of completing a private survey about personal attitudes with responses kept confidential fits this standard because it stays within everyday risk levels and relies on confidentiality to protect participants. The other descriptions imply harms beyond daily life—physical harm needing medical intervention, hospitalization, or risks that are primarily financial—which exceed minimal risk.

Minimal risk means the chance and magnitude of harm in a study are no greater than what people encounter in daily life or during routine exams. In social and behavioral research, many studies involve surveys or interviews about attitudes or behaviors, where the main concern is protecting privacy. When responses are kept confidential, the potential risk is mainly about privacy, which is similar to ordinary life experiences and manageable with safeguards.

The description of completing a private survey about personal attitudes with responses kept confidential fits this standard because it stays within everyday risk levels and relies on confidentiality to protect participants. The other descriptions imply harms beyond daily life—physical harm needing medical intervention, hospitalization, or risks that are primarily financial—which exceed minimal risk.