Ethical Dilemma Analysis
in Educational Research
Management
Dr. Anna Cruz, a researcher and education supervisor, initiates a study across several
public high schools to examine the impact of digital learning modules on student
academic performance. The research involves accessing students' academic records,
administering assessments, and conducting interviews with selected teachers and
learners.
Due to time constraints, parental consent forms were not distributed. Instead, a generic
notification was sent to school heads and posted on bulletin boards. Furthermore, the
student data collected was saved on a shared online folder accessible to multiple
research assistants. Lastly, Dr. Cruz is also part of the publishing team promoting the
digital modules being evaluated.
Presented :
FRANCIS M.RAMOS
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Ethical Dilemmas Identified
1
Lack of Explicit
Informed Consent
2 Data Confidentiality
Breach
3 Conflict of Interest
Dr. Cruz stands to benefit if the research
Students and parents were not properly
Learner information, including grades and
supports the effectiveness of the digital
informed nor provided with a formal
personal identifiers, was stored in a
modules she is promoting.
option to consent or decline
shared drive without data protection
participation.
measures.
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Stakeholder Perspectives
Students and Parents
May feel their rights to privacy and informed participation were ignored.
Teachers
Caught between administrative pressure and ethical concerns.
Dr. Cruz
Faces professional risks if research integrity is questioned.
Department of Education
Responsible for ensuring ethical compliance and public trust.
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Possible Courses of Action
Continue Study as Planned
Pros: Data already gathered, avoids delay.
Cons: High risk of ethical violations and
Seek Retroactive Consent
and Encrypt Data
Pros: Partial compliance and risk management.
backlash.
Cons: May not fully meet ethical standards;
data already compromised.
Pause the Study, Secure
Proper Consent, and
Appoint a Neutral
Evaluator
Pros: Full ethical compliance, rebuilds trust,
ensures valid results.
Cons: Time-consuming, may affect timelines
and resources.
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Recommended Action
Option 3: Pause and
Redesign the Research
Process
•
Re-issue informed consent forms to all participants.
•
Transfer all student data to a secure, encrypted server.
•
Assign an independent research team to evaluate the digital modules.
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Potential Consequences of Decisions
Decision
Consequences
Continue as is
Breach of ethics, invalid results, legal action
Retroactive fix
Ethical gray area, public skepticism
Redesign properly
Delays project but preserves research integrity
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Strategies to Mitigate Ethical Challenges
Ethics Training
IRB Clearance
Implement comprehensive ethics training for research teams.
Require Institutional Review Board (IRB) clearance for all studies.
Data Privacy
Third-Party Review
Establish clear data privacy protocols and access restrictions.
Include third-party reviewers for potential conflict of interest cases.
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