This past week, we learned about the ethical issues related to qualitative research and the importance of taking a relational approach. Our textbook contained a wealth of information and emphasized the need to be reflective and flexible in research. As a researcher, it is important that I am aware of my own limitations, influences, and biases, so that I don’t let my personal needs and opinions skew my research. I must be willing to change myself, my approach, and my methods as I learn from and with my research. Research is a collaborative effort, not just amongst researchers, but with participants as well. How we engage with our participants affects our research and its outcomes.
It is important that all researchers consider the welfare of participants and takes precautions to avoid any type of harm to the participants. As I plan research, I must consider all potential risks to participants and develop safeguards avoid these risks as much as possible. Internet-based research comes with a its own set of risks and potential pitfalls. Researchers must consider the risks involved when eliciting information online and using online data when conducting research.
The ethical issues related to gathering information online are very similar to those of traditional data collection. It is much easier to collect information online; however, it is harder to protect participants and promise confidentiality. In preparation for my CITI certification, I read about Internet-based research. One thing that bothered me during that reading was that there is no way to guarantee absolute confidentiality when dealing with Internet-based research. Although I can utilize best practices and plan for potential problems, in the end, there is still a possibility that participants information could be compromised.
The textbook contains a list of considerations related to data management and security, which I found very helpful. However, I know that the textbook alone will not prepare me to overcome the privacy and confidentiality issues with online research. I need to conduct more research in this area in order to gain a better understanding of the challenges to online research and the best practices for overcoming these challenges.
Reference:
Ravitch, S.M. and Carl, N.M. (2016). Qualitative research: Bridging the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological. Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.
