Our anonymous online research participants are not always anonymous: Is this a problem?

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 428-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip Dawson
Keyword(s):  
Online Research ◽  
Research Participants

Conducting Ethical Research Online

2004 ◽  
pp. 156-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynne Roberts ◽  
Leigh Smith ◽  
Clare Pollock
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Online Research ◽  
Ethical Research ◽  
Research Participants

Online research introduces new ethical issues inherent to the medium. In this chapter we provide a case study of online research in action, focusing on the ethical issues of conducting qualitative research within virtual environments. The case study provides an example of how research can be conducted within virtual environments with the consent of research participants and their community, without compromising their confidentiality, violating their assumptions of privacy or infringing upon their copyright entitlements.

scholarly journals An evaluation of the process of informed consent: views from research participants and staff

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia O’ Sullivan ◽  
Laura Feeney ◽  
Rachel K. Crowley ◽  
Prasanth Sukumar ◽  
Eilish McAuliffe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Informed Consent ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Informed Consent Process ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Consent Process ◽  
Online Research ◽  
Research Staff ◽  
Research Participants ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The process of informed consent for enrolment to a clinical research study can be complex for both participants and research staff. Challenges include respecting the potential participant’s autonomy and information needs while simultaneously providing adequate information to enable an informed decision. Qualitative research with small sample sizes has added to our understanding of these challenges. However, there is value in garnering the perspectives of research participants and staff across larger samples to explore the impact of contextual factors (time spent, the timing of the discussion and the setting), on the informed consent process. Methods Research staff and research participants from Ireland and the UK were invited to complete an anonymous survey by post or online (research participants) and online (research staff). The surveys aimed to quantify the perceptions of research participants and staff regarding some contextual factors about the process of informed consent. The survey, which contained 14 and 16 multiple choice questions for research participants and staff respectively, was analysed using descriptive statistics. Both surveys included one optional, open-ended question, which were analysed thematically. Results Research participants (169) and research staff (115) completed the survey. Research participants were predominantly positive about the informed consent process but highlighted the importance of having sufficient time and the value of providing follow-up once the study concludes, e.g. providing results to participants. Most staff (74.4%) staff reported that they felt very confident or confident facilitating informed consent discussions, but 63% felt information leaflets were too long and/or complicated, 56% were concerned about whether participants had understood complex information and 40% felt that time constraints were a barrier. A dominant theme from the open-ended responses to the staff survey was the importance of adequate time and resources. Conclusions Research participants in this study were overwhelmingly positive about their experience of the informed consent process. However, research staff expressed concern about how much participants have understood and studies of patient comprehension of research study information would seem to confirm these fears. This study highlights the importance of allocating adequate time to informed consent discussions, and research staff could consider using Teach Back techniques. Trial Registration Not applicable

Conducting Ethical Research Online

2008 ◽  
pp. 324-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynne Roberts ◽  
Leigh Smith ◽  
Clare Pollock
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Online Research ◽  
Ethical Research ◽  
Research Participants

Online research introduces new ethical issues inherent to the medium. In this chapter we provide a case study of online research in action, focusing on the ethical issues of conducting qualitative research within virtual environments. The case study provides an example of how research can be conducted within virtual environments with the consent of research participants and their community, without compromising their confidentiality, violating their assumptions of privacy or infringing upon their copyright entitlements.

International Research and Variation in Views of Ethnicity

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-72
Author(s):  
Ella Inglebret ◽  
Amy Skinder-Meredith ◽  
Shana Bailey ◽  
Carla Jones ◽  
Ashley France
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Classification System ◽  
International Research ◽  
The United States ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Research Participants ◽  
The Past ◽  
International Scale ◽  
Publication Patterns

The authors in this article first identify the extent to which research articles published in three American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) journals included participants, age birth to 18 years, from international backgrounds (i.e., residence outside of the United States), and go on to describe associated publication patterns over the past 12 years. These patterns then provide a context for examining variation in the conceptualization of ethnicity on an international scale. Further, the authors examine terminology and categories used by 11 countries where research participants resided. Each country uses a unique classification system. Thus, it can be expected that descriptions of the ethnic characteristics of international participants involved in research published in ASHA journal articles will widely vary.

Ambiguities of “Insider-ness” in the Study of Religion

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-169
Author(s):  
Serawit Debele
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Identities ◽  
Ethnic Background ◽  
Research Participants ◽  
Economic Context ◽  
Ambiguous Position ◽  
Political Persuasion

Based on the author’s experience in conducting fieldwork on religion in Ethiopia, in this article she analyses the complexities of being an insider in a certain socio-political and economic context. Instead of ascribing an essence to insider-ness as a straightforward and definite category, it is argued that insider-ness is a product of dynamic and complex intersubjective interactions and processes. It is an ambiguous position marked by a continuous shift resulting from the researcher’s navigations between multiple identities at different times and environments in relation to research participants. As pointed out by Bourke (2014), the perpetual flux of one’s identity as an insider or an outsider stems from the researcher’s position: gender, class, ethnic background and religious as well as political persuasion. Furthermore, in as much as one enjoys the associated benefits thereof, the insider is faced with myriad challenges due to her or his variegated identities that in turn inform interlocutors’ perceptions, expectations and responses.

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