Ethics Explorer: Confidentiality in Social Performance Practice
Welcome to Ethics Explorer, your monthly guide to navigating ethical challenges in social performance practice. Each month, we explore one of the core ethical principles that guide our profession, illustrated with real examples and practical guidance. This month’s Ethics Explorer focuses on Confidentiality in Social Performance Practice.
Audio play here:
This Month’s Ethical Principle: Confidentiality
Practitioners must protect sensitive information while balancing transparency needs, ensuring trust and protecting stakeholder privacy and interests.
Example of this principle in social performance practice
David carefully manages sensitive household survey data during a resettlement planning process, ensuring personal information is protected while still enabling transparent decision-making about compensation packages.
Example of how a practitioner can face a difficult decision because they see this principle as being conflicted at work
Maria discovers concerning information during confidential household interviews that could affect broader community safety.
She faces multiple pressures:
- Interviewees shared information under promise of confidentiality
- The information reveals potential risks to other community members
- Management requests access to raw interview data
- Community leaders demand to know interview findings
This situation highlights:
- Privacy protection: Balancing individual confidentiality with community safety
- Data management: Managing sensitive information appropriately
- Ethical disclosure: Determining when to break confidentiality
- Trust relationships: Maintaining stakeholder confidence while managing risks
