8/8/2019 Lec 4 Research Ethics

1/6

Research Ethics

8/8/2019 Lec 4 Research Ethics

2/6

Research Ethics

Ethical concerns include what the researcher should orshould not do. There may be ethical dilemmas. Somestudies require ethical approval by the relevantgoverning body.

Professional conduct professional conduct of self and of theresearch interactions, respect for participants

Informed consent do not study people without their consent

Anonymity names or other information that will disclose who theparticipants are not used

Privacy and confidentiality safeguard confidential information

Duty to protect/warn Duty to care

Note that there is also a freedom of information act

8/8/2019 Lec 4 Research Ethics

3/6

Informed Consent

A participants ability to give consent which is freefrom any form of pressure (real or implied) arisingfrom this unequal power relationship should not becompromised.

Therefore, where possible, researchers are not tochoose participants where there is a dependentrelationship. For instance, teacher/studentdoctor/patient. If, after due consideration, theinvestigator believes that research involving peoplein dependent relationships is purposeful andmethodologically defensible, They will also need tobe reassured that refusal to participate will not resultin any discrimination or penalty.

8/8/2019 Lec 4 Research Ethics

4/6

Confidentiality

Participants need to be aware that

confidentiality of information provided can

only be protected within the limitations ofthe law - i.e., it is possible for data to be

subject to subpoena, freedom of

information claim or mandated reporting

by some professions. Depending on theresearch proposal you may need to

specifically state these limitations.

8/8/2019 Lec 4 Research Ethics

5/6

Risks to participants and

researchersPOTENTIAL RISKTOPARTICIPANTS need to

recognized and avoided. Identify, as far aspossible, all potential risks to participants

(e.g. physical, psychological, social, legal oreconomic etc.), associated with the proposedresearch.

Please explain what risk management

procedures will be put in place (ifunavoidable)

Potential benefits should outweigh any potentialrisks

8/8/2019 Lec 4 Research Ethics

6/6

Some specific ethical principles

Complete anonymity of participants (i.e., researchers will not know theidentity of participants as participants are part of a random sample andare required to return responses with no form of personal identification).

Anonymised samples or data (i.e., an irreversible process wherebyidentifiers are removed from data and replaced by a code, with no recordretained of how the code relates to the identifiers. It is then impossible toidentify the individual to whom the sample of information relates)

De-identified samples or data (i.e., a reversible process in which theidentifiers are removed and replaced by a code. Those handling the datasubsequently do so using the code. If necessary, it is possible to link thecode to the original identifiers and identify the individual to whom the

sample or information relates)

Participants being referred to by pseudonyms in any publication arisingfrom the research