Ethical guidelines for research
with human subjects
Dimitris Christopoulos
dimitriscc@gmail.com
Disadvantage of respondents
◼
◼
◼
◼
◼
Respondents are disadvantaged by their position as
providers of data
They are inherently exploited for data through the
research process
Their position is weak because they may divulge
data they do not intend to
They lose control over the data they divulge
They occupy an uncertain position because data
analysis may indicate an inherent weakness in their
position within their social group or organisation
Who owns the data?
◼
◼
◼
What is the nature of the ethical dilemma?
What harm can come out of access to
confidential data?
Can we provide guarantees that future users
of our data will not use them in ways that
could harm respondents?
Designing a study we should attempt
to guarantee (Klovdahl, 2005)
◼
Minimal risk:
❑
❑
❑
❑
◼
◼
◼
◼
Voluntary participation
Participants can opt out
Confidentiality should be guaranteed
Consider value of information to third parties
Method should not be altered at a later stage
The interest and identity of non-traceable parties
are considered
Consent should not adversely affect the interests of
participants
Feedback should be provided
Subject consent should be based
on:
◼
◼
◼
◼
◼
Information on the purpose of the study
its utility to the community,
assurances of confidentiality,
a statement of approval by a committee that
can authorise research with human subjects
(Kadushin, 2005), i.e. IRB-more below
an understanding of the implications of the
analysis of results i.e. understanding of
methods
Ethics for Research in Organisations
(Borgatti and Molina, 2005)
◼ Signed agreement with the management on
the use of the data
❑
❑
◼
Not to be employed in employee assessment or
promotion
Not to coerce employees to participate
Signed consent from participants
❑
❑
❑
Data will be anonymised
Management guarantees (as above) determining
the use of the data
Examples of data analysis to demonstrate data
use
Exercise caution
◼
◼
◼
◼
Resist ‘action research’ : this can be very emotive
(and can be seen an indirect practice of therapy)
Provide feedback: this can be tailored to each
participant and on an anonymised version of the
complete network
Although anonymity is not guaranteed, it may be
possible to negotiate with access gatekeepers that
will agree to receive data anonymised
Consider the possibility that managers or other
parties may attempt to employ research outside the
guarantees they have initially provided (data
ownership)
Solutions?
◼
◼
◼
◼
◼
Consider presenting results in anonymised lists
Agencies may be convinced of a full-proof
anonymisation if institution A collects the eponymous
data without further access to the data. These would
then be anonymised for use by researchers not directly
associated with institution A
Some software has integrated anonymisation routines at
the data entry stage.
Ethics committee consent may take a long time for what
is inherently a sensitive data collection process
Psychometric and medical data are considered
particularly sensitive and likely to require separate ethics
committee approval
Good practice
•European Science Foundation Code of
Conduct
•Checklist for Researchers
•LSE Research ethics Approval &
Consent Form
9
To Summarise:
Ethics Considerations & IRB
◼
If you are dealing with human subjects you
would need to consider:
❑
❑
❑
❑
❑
Maintaining confidentiality and the anonymity of
your informants/participants
Maintaining data security: EU regulations & GDPR
explained
The autonomy of individual informants & informed
consent
Maximise benefit and minimise harm
Integrity and transparency
Submit a request for approval of your
fieldwork to irb@modul.ac.at
11