Experimental Research Methods in Language Learning Chapter 6 Ethical Considerations in Experimental Research

Leading Questions What do you think can be an impact of a study on research participants? What do you think are research ethics? Why do we need to think about ethics when we conduct research?

Ethical Considerations in Experimental Research Experimental research requires research participants. Researchers need to consider any potential risks. Researchers need to follow some ethical protocols to safeguard their research participants in terms of confidentiality and their right to privacy. They are related to researchers’ professional integrity.

The APA Code of Ethical Conduct The five general principles are: Beneficence and Non-Malfeasance : benefits, physical and/or psychological dangers welfare and rights of the researcher participants. Fidelity and Responsibility : trust, professional responsibilities, avoidance of conflicts of interest. Integrity : research accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness of scientific knowledge and educational advancement, avoid deception.

The APA Code of Ethical Conduct Justice : issues related to bias, fairness and justice in research, professional limitations and expertise in the field. Respect for People’s Right and Dignity : participants’ right to privacy, confidentiality, and welfare.

The AERA Ethical Standards Considers participants’ or their guardians’ right to: knowledge of the likely risk and potential consequences from being involved in a study; confidentiality, whereby information will not be disclosed to the public without participants’ or their guardians’ permission. researchers’ honesty about the research aim and processes. a withdrawal from the study and of any data provided earlier in the study.

Informed Consent Researchers need to provide detailed information about what will be involved for the participants prior to their consent. Parents/legal guardians need to give their consent on behalf of their young children. A translation of the participant information statements and the consent form into participants first language A debriefing session to explain elements of the research project and allow questions to be asked.

Anonymity Anonymity (i.e., unidentifiability) promotes participants to be truthful in expressing their thoughts and attitudes. Complete anonymity is difficult to achieve in experimental research because participants need to take part in the study within a period of time. Anonymity can be achieved to the extent that the researchers are the only ones who know the identities of the participants.

Confidentiality Confidentiality can be achieved through the use of pseudonyms (unreal names) to refer to research participants and the name of the research site (e.g., school, college, university or company). It is linked to the concept of participants’ privacy of personal information.

Institutional Research Ethics Approval Researchers should submit their research ethics application forms to the relevant institutional research ethics review committees for approvals prior to data collection. An institutional ethics committee’s mission is to safeguard research participants, researchers, and the institute(s).

Experimental Researchers’ Key Responsibilities and Obligations Responsibilities and Obligation to Research Participants Provide adequate information to research participants. Consider all potential physical and psychological harm that may occur in an experimental study and constantly monitor them throughout the study. Reward their cooperation and efforts to take part in the study.

Experimental Researchers’ Key Responsibilities and Obligations Responsibilities and Obligations to the Profession Plan an experimental study carefully. Do not abuse any colleagues or research students by asking them to collect the data for the study they are not involved in. Always submit an ethics application to the institute’s research ethics committee for approval. Write your research report clearly and honestly.

Discussion How would you describe ethics in research? Why are ethical considerations for human participants important in experimental research? What should you do to make sure that your experimental research is ethical? Do you consider ‘deception’ good or bad in experimental research? Why or why not?