Procter & gamble uses an intranet called innovationnet to people working on similar problems share ideas and expertise. innovationnet connects those working in many different departments around the world. it uses a browser-based portal to access data and includes a directory of subject matter experts who can be tapped to give advice or collaborate on problem solving or product development.

Which of the following methods could be considered a “best practice” in terms of informing respondents how their answers to an on-line survey about personal information will be protected? the investigator uses the informed consent process to explain how respondent data will be transmitted from the website to his encrypted database without ever recording respondents’ ip addresses, but explains that on the internet confidentiality cannot be absolutely guaranteed. respondents are informed that investigators will try to keep their participation confidential; however, confidentiality cannot be assured. the investigator uses the informed consent process to explain her institution’s method for guaranteeing absolute confidentiality of research data. respondents are informed that a research assistant will transfer all the research data to a password-protected computer that is not connected to the internet, via a usb flashdrive. the computer is located in a research team member’s office.