Final answer:
APA ethical standards require researchers to maintain participant confidentiality and protect their privacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
APA ethical standards require researchers to maintain participant confidentiality. Researchers must protect the privacy of research participants whenever possible and are not ethically allowed to release confidential information. This means that researchers must obtain participants' informed consent, inform them of the responsibilities and risks of research, and ensure their safety during the study.
The American Sociological Association also establishes ethical guidelines that address conducting studies, using existing sources, accepting funding, and publishing results.