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Research Ethics

Research Ethics. Chapter 11. Ethical Issues in Research. Do no harm. One person/group does not bear an undue burden of the research risk. No is excluded from the benefits. FIRST Principle - Do No Harm. Knowledge is secondary interest. Risk assessment is a key feature of all research.

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Research Ethics

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  1. Research Ethics Chapter 11

  2. Ethical Issues in Research • Do no harm. • One person/group does not bear an undue burden of the research risk. • No is excluded from the benefits.

  3. FIRST Principle - Do No Harm • Knowledge is secondary interest. • Risk assessment is a key feature of all research. • Constant balance between potential gain and risk of harm. • Always weighted in favour of research subjects.

  4. Policies in Canada • Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms • Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS2, 2010) • Administered through Research Ethics Board. • Approval process • Policy is due to inadvertent harm caused to participants. • The researcher may not recognize all the risks.

  5. Research Ethics Board (REB) • All Canadian research requires REB approval. • Must be obtained before people are approached to be participants. • There is an appeal process. • REBS are internal to the affiliated institution. • Universities, colleges, government, private companies • Members from different disciplines • Must have an external representative. • Conflict of interests rules • Funding relationships, work with the applicant

  6. Approval Quantitative vs. Qualitative • Quantitative is easier. • Stated hypothesis and specific plan for testing • Data gathered from one person at a time • Qualitative • Flexibility for emerging themes means indeterminate methods. • May capture data on people that would not want their activities observed. • Cautious REB can restrict research project, prevent funding, prevent research project.

  7. Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS2) • Provides for variation in research methods. • Three core overlapping principles: • Respect for persons • Concern for welfare • Justice

  8. Respect for Persons • Research subjects are not ‘objects’ or resources to be used for some end. • Individuals have basic human rights that include dignified treatment by researchers. • The most fundamental of the three principles • Free, informed, and ongoing consent to act as collaborators • Must be advised of the risks and potential benefits of the research.

  9. Respect for Persons - Forms • Information sheet • the research project • the methods • the potential risks and potential benefits of participating • the names of those in charge • the affiliated institution and contact information • assurances of confidentiality • how the data will be stored • how the findings will be published • Consent form • Notice of ability to leave study at any time

  10. Respect for Persons - Consent • Must have the ability to understand. • Must have the ability to actually consent. • Limited ability (e.g., child, medically limited) • Must have an agent or guardian provide the consent.

  11. Respect for Persons – Consent, cont’d • Impractical in Ethnography (participant observation) • Prevent contamination of subjects • Unforeseen changes in project due to emerging theme • Unknown people may enter the research setting • Participants with knowledge of the research • Not all participants will get the same information. • e.g., Milgram • When participant refuses to sign forms (anonymity concern) researcher may rely on a verbal, ad hoc explanation and consent. • REB approval of methodology is still required.

  12. Respect for Persons – Deception • Deception is a last resort. • If used… then used sparingly. • Subjects should be debriefed about the deception. • If feasible • As soon as possible

  13. Respect for Persons – Divulging Sponsorship • Divulge • Participants should be able to choose not to participate if they are uncomfortable with who might have access to the data. • Don’t Divulge • May cause participants to feel pressured. • e.g., give answers that are seen as favourable

  14. Concern for Welfare • Well-being of person, group, community • Avoid harm, embarrassment, inadvertent identification. • Privacy • Confidentiality • Must be maintained when there is contact between researcher and subject, even if online. • Not a concern with publicly available information.

  15. Concern for Welfare - Qualitative • Pseudonyms may not be enough. • In-depth research, analysis, and reporting may provide enough detail that people or locations could be identified.

  16. Concern for Welfare – Qualitative, cont’d • Covert research • Very intrusive • No consent • Benefits must outweigh the any harm to participants • Little to no concern over reactivity • Permission from the participants, to use the data may be sought after-the-fact • If they are available • Researchers must ensure anonymity of the non-consenting participants

  17. Concern for Welfare – Qualitative, cont’d • Secondary participants • People who enter into a research setting whose social role is not at the heart of the research (e.g., clients who appear in a study on the working conditions of prostitutes) • Historically they have often missed in privacy, confidentiality and consent concerns. • Is it enough that the researcher ensures nothing is disclosed that might expose the secondary participants’ identify?

  18. Concern for Welfare – Qualitative, cont’d • Secondary participants • Researcher may have a duty to report on certain activities observed or disclosed (e.g., child abuse, crime). • Privacy and confidentiality rules are often used to set boundaries on what can be disclosed to a researcher and what will result in a report to an outside agency. • REB review and approval required.

  19. Justice • No person or group should be exploited for research (e.g., prison inmates). • No person or group should be systemically excluded from the benefits. • Inclusivity • Normal part of establishing a representative sample group

  20. Justice, cont’d • Intersubjectivity • But some researchers have dealt with research subjects as ‘objects of study’ rather than human collaborators. • Principle of no harm should be followed • Less risk in social research than in medical research but still exists (e.g., Zimbardo).

  21. Justice, cont’d • In practice, potential harm should not outweigh the potential benefits. • Avoid research that is likely to cause harm or be disturbing. • Life should not get worse because of participation as in a research project. • If potential harm and risks are greater than risks of everyday life then informed consent is a minimum requirement. • Ability to opt-out at anytime

  22. Justice, cont’d • Paid participation • May induce risks beyond participants normal behaviour. • May be viewed as pressure to participate or remain in a study beyond participants usual stopping point.

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