Students in a social science class believe that their peers may express opinions more freely if anonymity is preserved. What method best protects this anonymity?

Conducting written surveys with questionnaires that assign numbers to subjects is the best method for preserving anonymity in this context. This approach ensures that individual responses cannot be traced back to specific individuals, as each respondent is identified only by a number rather than by name or other identifying information. This level of anonymity can encourage students to express their opinions more freely, as they may feel more secure knowing that their identities are protected while sharing potentially sensitive or controversial viewpoints.

In contrast, interviewing subjects one-on-one could potentially compromise anonymity since the interviewer could recognize the individual and possibly trace responses back to them. Destroying notes after compiling a report may seem like a good practice, but if the information is still linked to a specific person before destruction, anonymity is not effectively protected. Allowing subjects to make audio recordings could also lead to issues with anonymity, as the recordings might include identifiable information or be accessible to individuals beyond the researcher. Thus, the structured and anonymous nature of written surveys with numerical identifiers stands out as the most effective method for ensuring that students feel safe when voicing their opinions.