Which online research strategy raises major ethical concerns about respecting the autonomy of research subjects?

Joining a support group as a posed identity to observe interactions raises significant ethical concerns about respecting the autonomy of research subjects primarily because it involves deception. Researchers who assume false identities to observe people in an online setting are not providing informed consent to those individuals. This lack of transparency means that participants cannot make informed decisions about their involvement, ultimately undermining their autonomy.

Ethics in research emphasize the importance of informed consent; participants should be made aware of their involvement in research and the nature of the study. When researchers engage covertly, they effectively deny individuals the choice to opt in or out of the research process. This strategy can lead to breaches of trust and may have emotional or psychological implications for participants who believe they are interacting with genuine members of a support group, rather than being part of a research study.

In contrast, other strategies mentioned, such as conducting surveys via email, creating anonymous user profiles, and using social media to recruit participants, generally involve more straightforward methods of participant engagement where individuals have more control and awareness regarding their participation, making them less ethically problematic concerning autonomy.