What important issue is addressed by a researcher conducting an anonymous survey on attitudes toward walking?

Conducting an anonymous survey is particularly significant in terms of ensuring the confidentiality of individual responses. When researchers use anonymous surveys, participants are more likely to be honest and open in their responses because they do not have to worry about their identities being linked to their answers. This anonymity helps protect the privacy of participants, making it easier for them to express their true opinions and attitudes without fear of judgment or repercussions.

Additionally, the focus on confidentiality is crucial in sensitive topics, such as attitudes toward walking, where participants may hold personal views that they might be reluctant to share if they were identifiable. By prioritizing anonymity, researchers can collect more accurate and reliable data, ultimately leading to better insights into the attitudes being studied.

While emotional distress, data analysis from a large sample, and recruitment practices are important in different contexts of research, they do not directly address the unique and pivotal issue of protecting individual responses in an anonymous survey setting.