Paper III Qualitative research methodology

Objective 1.4 Discuss ethical considerations in qualitative research

Ethics are codes or rules which govern that practices of a research study. Ethics are codes or rules which govern that practices of a research study. It dictates how information, and participant relationships should be managed. Code of ethics and the laws are mutually exclusive. It dictates how information, and participant relationships should be managed. Code of ethics and the laws are mutually exclusive. Ethical Considerations

 Ethical considerations specifically at the SCLOA usually involve human participants in real world settings (although controlled laboratory settings may be used for social experiments).  The research usually involves both quantitative (experiments, surveys, etc.) and qualitative (case studies, interviews, overt/covert observations, etc.) research methods.  Thus, ethical considerations are increasingly important at this level of analysis. Ethical Considerations

Strategies to developing your essay Limit your essay in scope! You will not be able to discuss every ethical consideration at this level of analysis. You should carefully select ethical considerations (i.e. experimental ethics, observational study ethics) along with research examples to develop your response. Limit your essay in scope! You will not be able to discuss every ethical consideration at this level of analysis. You should carefully select ethical considerations (i.e. experimental ethics, observational study ethics) along with research examples to develop your response. Remember: general-specific- general. Remember: general-specific- general.

There are, overall, the same ethical issues involved in qualitative research as in qualitative research. There are, overall, the same ethical issues involved in qualitative research as in qualitative research. These include: These include:  Informed Consent  Protection from psychological and physical harm  Respect for the participants’ integrity and privacy  The right to withdraw General Ethical Concerns

 However, there are special ethical considerations to be made due to the very nature of qualitative research.  The characteristics of qualitative or field research usually include close personal contact with the participant.  Special care must be made in order to ensure the protection of the participants and those in the field which researchers study. Qualitative Ethical Concerns

 Ethical issues such as anonymity may arise in case studies or in research designs with a small number of participants, because of the risk that they may be identified in research reports.  Informed consent and protection from harm may become issues when considering the nature of many environments that qualitative researchers look to uncover. Qualitative Ethical Concerns

 The general rule of psychological research states that informed consent should always be obtained.  The nature of some qualitative studies, however, may warrant exceptions to this rule.  Some review boards will offer a pardon to this rule if the outcome outweighs the potential harm of uninformed participants (as in the case with studying addictions or violence in a street gang). Informed Consent

 The researchers must explicitly make clear to any participant that participation is voluntary.  As with case studies, participants must always be afforded the right to withdraw their information and any other data. Informed Consent

 The researchers must take preventive action in all research, to avoid harming the participants.  This is particularly true in sensitive research topics, such as domestic or drug abuse.  This is where informed consent becomes increasingly important. Researchers must always remain transparent about the nature of interview questions, the purpose of focus groups, and the objectives of observations. Protection from harm

 The researchers must take preventive action in all research, to avoid harming the participants.  This is particularly true in sensitive research topics, such as domestic or drug abuse.  This is where informed consent becomes increasingly important. Researchers must always remain transparent about the nature of interview questions, the purpose of focus groups, and the objectives of observations. Protection from harm

Background The experiment was performed in 1971 The experiment was performed in 1971 The experiment was overseen by Dr. Philip Zimbardo The experiment was overseen by Dr. Philip Zimbardo PH. D. in Psychology from Yale PH. D. in Psychology from Yale It was done in connection with Stanford University It was done in connection with Stanford University 13

The Set Up The experiment lasted 6 days The experiment lasted 6 days It occurred in a mock prison setting created at the university It occurred in a mock prison setting created at the university Doors with bars, a “yard area” etc. Doors with bars, a “yard area” etc. 14

The People Sent out news paper ads Sent out news paper ads The experiment involved 24 male college students in the Stanford area The experiment involved 24 male college students in the Stanford area 15

The Observation The men were split into two groups: guards and prisoners The men were split into two groups: guards and prisoners The prisoners were taken from their house in a “mock arrest” The prisoners were taken from their house in a “mock arrest” They were frisked and searched upon entering the mock prison They were frisked and searched upon entering the mock prison They were given an informed consent form that talked about possible violation of rights and minimal food. It did not mention the potential of psychological or physical harm. They were given an informed consent form that talked about possible violation of rights and minimal food. It did not mention the potential of psychological or physical harm. 16

The Observation (con.) Often times the prisoners were put in uncomfortable situations such as being awakened at an unreasonable hour or physical punishment Often times the prisoners were put in uncomfortable situations such as being awakened at an unreasonable hour or physical punishment A rebellion developed and this caused an even more severe division between the guards and prisoners A rebellion developed and this caused an even more severe division between the guards and prisoners After the extensive abuse and other variable situations brought in, the experiment was ended After the extensive abuse and other variable situations brought in, the experiment was ended 17

 As previously stated, researchers must take preventive action in all research, to avoid harming the participants.   This ethical principle was clearly breached in this experiment due to the physical, emotional and mental consequences the prisoners experienced at the hands of the guards Protection from harm

 Participants in a research study have the right to withdraw from (i.e., discontinue participation in) research at anytime.  Participants in a research study have the right to withdraw from (i.e., discontinue participation in) research at anytime.  If a subject decides to withdraw from all components of a research study, the investigator must discontinue all activities involving that subject’s participation in that study. Right of withdrawal

 The participants in the Milgram experiment were 40 men recruited using newspaper ads. In exchange for their participation, each person was paid $4.50.  Milgram developed an intimidating shock generator, with shock levels starting at 30 volts and increasing in 15- volt increments all the way up to 450 volts.  The many switches were labeled with terms including "slight shock," "moderate shock" and "danger: severe shock." The final two switches were labeled simply with an ominous "XXX." Milgram’s Obedience Study

 Each participant took the role of a "teacher" who would then deliver a shock to the "student" every time an incorrect answer was produced.  While the participant believed that he was delivering real shocks to the student, the student was actually a confederate in the experiment who was simply pretending to be shocked.  Would this violate the previous consideration? Why or why not? Milgram’s Obedience Study

 Once the 300-volt level had been reached, the learner banged on the wall and demanded to be released. Beyond this point, the learner became completely silent and refused to answer any more questions.  The experimenter then instructed the participant to treat this silence as an incorrect response and deliver a further shock. Milgram’s Obedience Study

Most participants asked the experimenter whether they should continue. The experimenter issued a series of commands to prod the participant along: "Please continue." "Please continue." "The experiment requires that you continue." "The experiment requires that you continue." "It is absolutely essential that you continue." "It is absolutely essential that you continue." "You have no other choice, you must go on." "You have no other choice, you must go on." Milgram’s Obedience Study

 Milgram’s study specifically violated participant’s right to withdraw along with causing psychological harm.  While Milgram’s research raised serious ethical questions about the use of human subjects in psychology experiments, his results have also been consistently replicated in further experiments. Right of withdrawal

 Should unethical social research studies be accepted as science in psychology? Why or why not? Reflective Essay