Which principle must researchers follow when handling data from minors according to ethical standards?

When handling data from minors, researchers must adhere to the principle of confidentiality of participant data. This ethical standard ensures that any information obtained from minors during research is kept private and secure, respecting their rights and welfare. Maintaining confidentiality is crucial to protect vulnerable populations, such as children and adolescents, and is a foundational aspect of ethical research practices.

Confidentiality helps to create a safe environment for minors to participate in research without fear of their personal information being disclosed or misused. This principle also aligns with various ethical guidelines, such as the Belmont Report, and legal regulations, including the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which emphasize the importance of safeguarding sensitive data related to minors. By prioritizing confidentiality, researchers uphold the trust of participants and guardians, which is essential for ethical research.

The other options, while relevant to research ethics in general, do not specifically address the sensitive nature of working with data from minors. Transparency of funding sources is important for ethical integrity in research, compliance with laws is essential but may not always consider ethical implications beyond legal standards, and maximizing participant enrollment focuses on sample size without ensuring the protection and rights of the participants involved.