1. The ethics of representation in human participant research
EDN6015F:
Advanced Research Design
Dr Alan Cliff, February 2014

2. Scenario 1
You aim to do some research on teaching large classes, using technology. Your plan is to interview colleagues who you know have done this kind of teaching before. ********* What research ethics challenges do you foresee in representing yourself as researcher to these colleagues?

3. Scenario 2
You seek funding sponsorship for research on the use of laptops in class to support student learning. Funders agree to provide laptops free of charge to all research participants. ********* What research ethics challenges do you foresee in representing the funders to the research participants?

4. Scenario 3
You plan a research study on designing technology for multi-lingual learning contexts. Your aim is to pilot the technology in various multi-lingual settings. ********* What research ethics challenges do you foresee in representing your study to possible participants?

5. Scenario 4
You plan a paper-based survey on learner attitudes towards the use of text messages by students to promote learning. Your plan is to distribute the survey for completion in a class. ********* What research ethics challenges do you envisage in dealing with the data that emanate from this survey?

6. Representations of self
A researcher who may simultaneously be:
Colleague
Friend
Peer
Manager
Teacher
Issues of ‘objectivity’; role separation / diffusion; authenticity; congruence

7. Representations of research
How much – and what kinds of – information about the study is/are appropriate / reasonable / warranted?
What is “informed consent”?
To what extent and how does one deal with the representation of funded research; research purpose; possible outcomes?
What about deception? Is deception justified?

8. Representations of participants
Issues of anonymity and confidentiality
First and second-order participation
Questions about rights and responsibilities of researcher/s and participants
Issues of how participants are represented in research dissemination: who determines this representation?
Research as a form of social regulation

9. Representations of ‘data’
Issues around the storage and dissemination of data
Who ‘owns’ any data, such as transcripts / audio and video recordings / field notes?
Can participants share in the representation of data?
False disclosure issues

10. Representation of power
Ethics submissions as forms of regulation
Funding and funders’ roles and ‘conditions’
Research which exposes poor practice / mismanagement / tangential issues
Issues of researcher / ‘researched’ / language / ethnicity / gender / marginalised / disempowered

11. Guiding principles Protection from harm Justice and fairness
Beneficence
Iteration and reiteration / awareness

12. From ‘checklist approach’ to ethical behaviour and orientation
Guiding principles
From ‘checklist approach’ to ethical behaviour and orientation

13. References
Henn, M., Weinstein, M. & Foard, N. (2009) A Critical Introduction to Social Research. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage.
Mertens, D.M. (2009) Transformative Research and Evaluation. New York: The Guilford Press.
Mertens, D.M. & Ginsberg, P. (Eds) (2009) The Handbook of Social research Ethics. Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage Publications.