Identifying Three Ethical Issues In Conducting Research ✓ Solved

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Identifying three ethical issues in the conduct of research

Identify three ethical issues that might arise in the conduct of the research present in the cases. For each, explain why it is an ethical issue and how it may pose a challenge in conducting the research.

The journal that is dealing with the use of internet in qualitative research discusses several ethical issues related to the use of internet as a source for conducting research. Three prominent ethical issues include privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent.

Paper For Above Instructions

Research is an integral part of advancing knowledge in various fields, but it inevitably raises ethical issues that need to be meticulously addressed. Three significant ethical issues that commonly arise in research—particularly in qualitative research using the internet—are privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent.

Privacy

Privacy concerns are a major ethical issue when conducting research online. The digital world often blurs the lines between public and private spaces, leading to potential intrusions into individuals’ personal lives. For instance, while collecting data about breast cancer survivor groups, researchers may inadvertently access sensitive discussions that participants believe are private. The principle of respecting privacy is paramount, as breaches can lead to psychological harm and a loss of trust within the community (Hoque & Rana, 2018). To address privacy concerns, researchers must ensure that they inform participants about how their data will be used and secured, and they must obtain explicit consent for any data collection involving personal stories or experiences.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality plays a crucial role in ethical research. Researchers have a legal and moral obligation to protect the identities of their participants. The challenge arises because internet data can sometimes be traced back to individual users, especially if no anonymization techniques are employed. In qualitative research, where detailed narratives and interactions are often analyzed, maintaining confidentiality can be difficult yet essential (Goodwin & Pope, 2020). To uphold confidentiality, researchers should utilize anonymization techniques when presenting data—transforming any identifiable information into non-identifiable formats while ensuring participants are aware of the measures taken to keep their data secure.

Informed Consent

Informed consent is foundational to ethical research. Participants should fully understand the research purpose, methods, potential risks, and implications before agreeing to participate. This can be challenging in online research, where the immediacy and transience of the internet may undermine thorough consent processes. Moreover, many online forums exist as communities where individuals share personal experiences without the expectation of being studied. Therefore, informing participants in a clear and comprehensible manner becomes crucial (Cullen & Walsh, 2020). Researchers should develop comprehensive consent forms that outline all necessary information while being mindful of the participants’ time and understanding. Employing interactive consent methods, such as video explanations or live webinars, can engage participants more effectively.

Addressing Privacy Concerns

Among the ethical issues identified, privacy is particularly significant. With the notion that anything shared online may be accessible to the public, it is essential for researchers to create a safe and trusting environment. Establishing a dedicated community in which participants feel confident that their information will be treated confidentially is critical. Researchers must communicate their privacy protocols clearly, assuring participants that their data will not be shared outside the agreed-upon scope (Enochsson & Hultman, 2019). Additionally, researchers can adopt secure platforms for data collection, use password protections, and limit access to the data to essential personnel only.

Conclusion

In summary, ethical issues like privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent are pivotal in research, especially when utilizing the internet as a tool for data collection. Addressing these concerns is essential to maintaining the integrity of research and protecting participants’ rights. By fostering transparent communication, employing rigorous data protection measures, and respecting participants' autonomy, researchers can promote ethical standards while advancing valuable knowledge in their fields. As research continues to evolve in the digital age, proper attention to these ethical matters will be increasingly necessary for successful and responsible research endeavors.

References

• Cullen, O., & Walsh, C. A. (2020). A Narrative Review of Ethical Issues in Participatory Research with Young People. YOUNg, 28(4).
• Enochsson, A. B., & Hultman, A. L. (2019). Ethical Issues in Child Research: Caution of Ethical Drift. In Challenging Democracy in Early Childhood Education (pp. 27-39). Springer, Singapore.
• Goodwin, D., Mays, N., & Pope, C. (2020). Ethical Issues in Qualitative Research. Qualitative Research in Health Care, 27-41.
• Hoque, Z., & Rana, T. (2018). Dealing with human ethical issues in research: Some advice.
• Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2019). Principles of Biomedical Ethics. Oxford University Press.
• Diener, E., & Crandall, R. (1978). Ethics in Social and Behavioral Research. Mifflin Company.

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