Consider one of the following ethical dilemmas that may face a researcher. Describe ways you might anticipate the problem and actively address it in your research proposal. What boundaries must researchers work within and who sets them?
1. A prisoner you are interviewing tells you about a potential breakout at the prison that night. What do you do?
2. A researcher on your team copies sentences from another study and incorporates them into the final written report for your project. What do you do?
3. A student collects data for her project from several individuals she has interviewed I families in your city. After the fourth interview, she tells you that she has not received approval for the project from the Institutional Review Board. What do you do?
A prisoner you are interviewing tells you about a potential breakout at the prison that night. What do you do?
Ethics is a system of principles used and can change the previous considerations regarding actions and choices made. It mainly deals with the decision-making dynamics, which concerns what is wrong and what is right. During the research, it is essential to note that all activities are governed by communities, individuals, or social values. Research ethics involve daily work requirements, protecting the dignity of the research participants, and the publication of collected data in the research (Kamuya et al., 2013). The main ethical issues faced by those conducting research include informed consent, respect for confidentiality and anonymity, not harm, and respect for privacy. Informed consent is the leading ethical issue that researchers experience. Generally, informed consent is when a person knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily gives consent during research work. It is through informed consent that participant’s autonomy rights are protected. It also tried to prevent and protect participants from assaults and protect personal veracity. The do no harm principle is another ethical issue that researchers face in the field. In this case, it expects the researcher to participate in effective research to promote the wellbeing of their participants. Confidentiality occurs when the persona identity of the participant is kept private, and under no circumstance can information be connected to the participant unless they are willing to do so. Privacy is when the participant has the individual freedom to choose the time, extent, and circumstances under which they will share the required information.
In the case scenario, if I was interviewing told her about a possible breakout at night, he will be telling me this because he trusts me with the information. I will have to do something to protect the client from being known and at the same time prevent the breakout from occurring. In this case, I will create an informed consent form which the prisoner will have to sign. Signing the form will ensure that the prisoner’s identity is protected. If I do not do this, the prisoner’s privacy will be at stake, and they may withhold information from me during the research. They may opt to withhold information and fail to participate, which may impact the results of the research. The information a researcher receives from the participants during the interview may be essential and should not be disclosed. It is based on the ethical code that researchers must protect their participant’s privacy. Researchers need to understand that when they collect information in research, it is their responsibility to protect the participants and develop trust between them. Also, they should enhance research integrity, cope well with challenging issues and guard against misconduct.
The given case study presents the researcher with an ethical dilemma that he needs to figure out. The problem of research is essential because it provides the rationale for the importance. At the developmental stage of the problem, a researcher must develop a practical problem for the research’s participants. In the case study, the research is being conducted about the prison and the prisoners. In this case, the research problem should include the actions needed to benefit and improve prisoner’s welfare. When a researcher is writing their research proposal, they must include the possible ethical dilemmas they may encounter. He should do this even if the chances of experiencing ethical dilemmas in the field are minimal, and he should address the leading ethical issues in the field. Doing this prepares the researcher for anything they may encounter in the field and how well he may handle it if it occurs. Participatory research is essential because it prevents the marginalization of the participants of the study by the researcher. To achieve this, research developers must conduct pilot projects; doing this will enable the researcher to build respect and trust with his participants. Below are the main ethical dilemmas a researcher may experience;
As earlier mentioned, this is one of the major ethical issues a researcher may experience while in the field. It is one of the top ways the researcher protects a participant’s autonomy rights. Informed consent tries to incorporate participant’s autonomous rights via self-determination (Friederichs et al., 2014). A participant can make informed consent so that they can participate in research. In the given scenario, the interviewee is giving information that may impact his life. Therefore to protect his identity and save him from the wrath that he may face from other inmates, it will be essential to create an informed consent form. He will sign the consent to ensure he is protected and encourage his participation in the interview. Free consent is complete after introducing the impacts of the study to the participant and explaining to him why their participation is essential to the research (Hanna & Vanclay, 2013). After which, the participant decides whether or not they will participate in the research. Also, a researcher must state to the participant if there may be any discomfort or harm they may experience during the research. After all these, the researcher should be allowed to decide whether they are comfortable with the presented cases, and he is allowed to make his decision.
The confidentiality issue in research is closely related to respect, beneficence and fidelity. According to ANA, a participant’s anonymity is only protected if the identity cannot be linked with any given information like personal responses. If a researcher cannot promise the participant anonymity, he must address confidentiality with the participant. Confidentiality is when a researcher manages the private information a participant gives. In a research process, confidentiality is allowing a participant to give or withhold information from the researcher. However, the practical theory argues that societal happiness is more important than anything. However, the deontological theory focuses on the importance of moral duty than societal happiness (Puaschunder, 2021). When it comes to confidentiality, there are various dilemmas that a researcher may experience. For example, a researcher may find out about a murder confession from one participant during the research. In this case, they may be torn between presenting the confession to court or not. It is similar to the given case where the interviewee has informed the interviewer of a possible prison breakout. The interviewer is in a dilemma on what he should do with the information attained from the interviewee. In some cases, one can argue that the personal ethos and moral duty can sometimes be stronger than the legal requirements that accompany breaking confidentiality.
The researcher sometimes faces many problems that relate to maintaining participant’s confidentiality during the research process. This often occurs mainly with qualitative research where the samples used are smaller, and the written reports often display quotations. For this reason, it is necessary for researchers to constantly remember the social and psychological implications that may breach the participant’s confidentiality (Petrova, Dewing & Camilleri, 2016). It is vital that before starting the research, participants are made aware of their rights and freedoms to protect them and allow them to participate voluntarily. Also, they should use every coding system they may consider appropriate in every case.
In research, privacy is an individual’s freedom to decide the time, circumstances, and extent to which the private information will be shared during this period. A researcher needs to remember that it is not in their place to choose when to release the information regarding a certain participant without their permission (Puaschunder, 2018). Privacy invasion mostly occurs when data and information are shared with other people without the participant’s knowledge. It is essential to note that it is not a researcher’s responsibility to decide on the participant’s behalf on these issues. They should give the participants enough time to choose when they want the given information shared with others. In cases where the participant fails to report personal matters for various reasons, the researcher is obligated to respect the participant’s wish and not press further with the neglected question. A researcher may consider a certain topic not private and press on, but if the participant withholds from sharing, the researcher should respect that.
It is necessary to note that a researcher may invade privacy if they choose to study a certain group without their knowledge. Privacy invasion also occurs when researchers research without identifying themselves and what they do to the targeted groups (Hill et al., 2013). It is, therefore, necessary for researchers to take all possible cautions and measures to protect the participants from psychological, social, or physical damages. It should be so during and after the research process. Doing this will prevent the researcher from breaking any ethical laws or losing their jobs if they are found out and reported.
From the research, I found out that there are various ethical dilemmas a researcher may go through when he is in the field. However, the dilemmas can be controlled if not prevented, depending on what dilemma one is experiencing. During the research process, I found out that the researcher must respect the participant’s confidentiality. A researcher can do this by ensuring that the participant is aware of what he is taking part in and what they say remains confidential unless he is willing to release the statement. A researcher must remember that the collected information is a participant’s data. No matter what the circumstances are, he is not entitled to release it to anybody unless the participant states that. Also, during a research process, it is essential that before starting anything, the participants are aware of the possible discomforts that may arise during the process. After knowing this, the participant must be allowed to think and decide whether they are still willing to participate in the research.
Also, during the research process, I learned that the researcher should not convince the participant or press on him to release information that he may not be comfortable talking about. For instance, a participant may not want to talk about his marital status. A researcher may find it strange that the participant does not want to do this as it is not as private to the researcher. However, the researcher should understand that it is not in his place to determine what the participant talks about and what they may consider private may not mean the same to the participant. Therefore, in this case, they should not press. Instead, they should support the participant and let it be unless they are willing to talk about it. During this assignment, I learned that it is the responsibility of the researcher to protect the anonymity of the participant. It is not possible to achieve this; they should ensure they alternate it with participant confidentiality. What a person tells a researcher during the research process should be between the two. In cases of dilemma, the researcher should explain to the participant what is going on and like the given case; a researcher may come up with a form where the participant’s identity is protected.
After going through these scholarly articles, there needs to be further research and studies on various ethical dilemmas and the impacts they may cause to a researcher and the participant. Therefore, from these assignments and research, I would like to give the following recommendations on further studies;
In every field, be it at work, research, or health care, people are likely to experience different ethical issues. In these cases, various principles ensure that the rights of individuals are protected whatsoever in the process. For instance, the researcher or employer protects the autonomy right by ensuring that no given information is relatable to the participant whatsoever. Also, the principle of confidentiality protects participants and patients from being exposed or using the information attained for other purposes. For instance, the principle of confidentiality may cause ethical dilemmas during research. From the given question, for instance, the researcher is caught up in an ethical dilemma when the prisoner he is interviewing tells him about a possible breakout in prison. In this case, the researcher is torn between using this information to prevent the breakout by informing the guards or keeping this information to maintain participant confidentiality. Even though some dilemmas can be solved at the moment, some cannot. In this question, for instance, the information can be used, but the participant’s anonymity can be saved. Doing this prevents participants from fearing sharing more information during the research, and they may give more details. Researchers should be aware of the possible consequences they may experience during their research activities. Researchers should always remember the importance of making their participants aware of their rights and giving them the chance to leave the research whenever they feel uncomfortable.
Friederichs, S. A., Oenema, A., Bolman, C., Guyaux, J., van Keulen, H. M., & Lechner, L. (2014). I Move: systematic development of a web-based computer tailored physical activity intervention, based on motivational interviewing and self-determination theory. BMC public health, 14(1), 1-15.https://www.google.com/search?
Hanna, P., & Vanclay, F. (2013). Human rights, Indigenous peoples and the concept of Free, Prior and Informed Consent. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 31(2), 146-157.https://www.google.com/search?q=Hanna%2……..
Hill, E. M., Turner, E. L., Martin, R. M., & Donovan, J. L. (2013). “Let’s get the best quality research we can”: public awareness and acceptance of consent to use existing data in health research: a systematic review and qualitative study. BMC medical research methodology, 13(1), 1-10.https://www.google.com/search?q=Hill%2C…..
Kamuya, D. M., Theobald, S. J., Munywoki, P. K., Koech, D., Geissler, W. P., & Molyneux, S. C. (2013). Evolving Friendships and Shifting Ethical Dilemmas: Fieldworkers’ Experiences in a Short Term Community Based Study in K enya. Developing world bioethics, 13(1), 1-9.https://www.google.com/search?q=Kamuya%2C+D…..
Petrova, E., Dewing, J., & Camille.. (.2016). Confidentiality in participatory research: Challenges from one study. Nursing ethics, 23(4), 442-454.https://www.ccsu.edu/_files/list/262/CCSU_IRB_Guidelines_for_Collection_of_Demographic_Data_in_Research_Studies.pdf
Puaschunder, J. M. (2018). Dignity and utility of privacy and information sharing in the digital big data age. International Journal of Commerce and Management Research, 5(4), 62-70.http://www.managejournal.com/archives/2019/vol5/issue4/5-2-70
Puaschunder, J. (2021). Towards a utility theory of privacy and information sharing and the introduction of hyper-hyperbolic discounting in the digital big data age. In Research Anthology on Privatizing and Securing Data (pp. 68-111). IGI Global.https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/towards-a-utility-theory-of-privacy-and-information-sharing-and-the-introduction-of-hyper-hyperbolic-discounting-in-the-digital-big-data-age/280170
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