Which scenario exemplifies coercion in research?

The scenario in which subjects are told they will lose access to healthcare if they refuse to participate exemplifies coercion in research because it involves an inappropriate influence on the decision of the participants. Coercion occurs when individuals are pressured or forced to make a choice they wouldn't otherwise make, often through threats or undue influence. In this case, the potential loss of access to necessary healthcare services constitutes a serious pressure that impedes the voluntary nature of consent, which is a foundational ethical principle in research.

In contrast, being uninformed about study risks, while ethically concerning, does not directly involve coercion, as it pertains more to issues of transparency and informed consent. Receiving misinformation about study outcomes represents deception but does not necessarily involve pressure. Lastly, sharing participants’ data without consent breaches confidentiality and respect for privacy but does not fit within the framework of coercion. Thus, the essential element of pressure or threat in scenario B underscores its status as a clear example of coercion in research contexts.