Research ethics in qualitative researchEssi VuopalaLearning and educational technology research unit

Introduction• Ethics in the form of moral choices and decisions cover the

whole process of research from the choice of the topic all the way to the implications of the research results.

• The researcher has to follow a good research practice, which prioritize respect towards human self-determination and dignity (Pelkonen & Louhiala 2002).

• According to Chirstians (2000) research ethics include: • Permissions• Confidentiality• Ensuring the privacy• Fidelity

• A researcher should:• Be able to view her/himself as a member of a university community and promote critical thinking and the prerequisites for research.• Be loyal towards colleagues and appreciate their work.• Be genuinely interested in obtaining new information and aspiring to produce as reliable knowledge as possible.• Respect human dignity, and in carrying out research, avoid abusing anyone's autonomy, integrity or rights.• Be careful and honest in conducting research and reporting its results• Neither borrow without permission nor take credit for the research ideas, plans, discoveries or results of others• Use research knowledge responsibly and strive to ensure that knowledge acquired through research is used ethically.

(Toolbox of research/ University of Oulu)

Internal affairs of science• A researcher should carry out his work honestly,

carefully and precisely. Research must be planned, conducted and reported openly according to the requirements set for scientific knowledge. (for basic information about referencing, see further Hirsjärvi, Remes & Sajavaara 2006).

• When research is being carried out by a group of several researchers, it is a good idea to make a written agreement about how the group is going to function.

• Funding sources for research and different linkages are to be declared when reporting on the research.

1. Permissions• The target group has to become familiar with

research purposes and implementation before conducting the research.

• Informing the target group (TENK 2009)• Researcher’s contact information (providing opportunity

for further questions) • Funders• Subject and purpose of study• Data collection and timetable• Use, storage and disposal of the data• Voluntary participation• Consent

2. Confidentiality• Conducting a research requires trust between the

researcher and the participants.• Researcher has to tell honestly the aims and the

objectives to the participants.• The information obtained is processed and stored

confidentially.• When writing the research report, researcher must

protect the anonymity of the participants.• The participants are given the opportunity

afterwards to contact the researcher.• Confidentiality <-> open nature of the science

3. Ensuring the privacy

• Respect and ensuring of privacy in all phases of the research process (Ball 2006)• Adequate information when recruiting to participate in the

study, voluntary participation (Ball 2006)• Ensure anonymity of participants when processing,

reporting and storing the data. (Mäkelä, 1987).• Research publications: citations from interviews/

discussions etc. (Ball 2006 Advisory Board 2009)

4. Fidelity• The purpose of the study: ‘Whose needs I try to answer

with this study’ (Syrjäläinen 1995).• Responsibilities towards participants, funders and research

community.• The researcher must be truly interested in doing a research

and be strict in the research work (Pietarinen 2002)• The results has to be presented in the right light and the

purpose has to be the progression/ development on science/ theory/ scientific discussion (Pietarinen 2002)

• Respect towards other researchers’ work (Pietarinen 2002)• Anything essential is not added or left out to the research

report (Pietarinen 2002)

Check list 1(2)

Permissions

Inform your target group

Get permissions and consents

Inform the participants about the results

Confidentiality

Evaluate the impact of your research into the participants

Try to create good and trustful atmosphere

Be honest in every phase in your research

Remember professional secrecy

Give your contact information to the participants

Check list 2(2)

Ensuring the privacy

Replace all identifiers with codes.

Ensure the anonymity of participants when you use citations from your data.

Respect self-determination of the participants.

Store you data decently (where and how long).

Fidelity

Bring out the names of the funders in your research report.

Describe the research process in detail.

Argue choices you made from ethical viewpoint.

Justify the purpose of your study.

Report the results strictly.

Writing ’Research ethics’ chapter

• Present criteria.

• Reflect the choices you made based on criteria you have presented.

• Be honest.

Group task• Formulate three groups• Read the material given to your group and

supplement the checklist.• What aspect concerning research ethics was presented in

material?• What viewpoints are missing in the checklist?• How you could use the cheklist in your own research

(master thesis)?

Leena Syrjälä 2006 13

Literature• Coffey, A. 2000, Ethical Issues in Writing and

Representation Esitelmä Kasva tutkijakoulussa• Cristians, C. G. 2000. Ethics and Politis in

Qualitative Research. In Denzin & Lincoln, Handbook of Qualitative Research. London: Sage, p. 133- 155.