Week 5 Student Discussion

Question 1: Review the classmates’ posts and respond to at least one in a minimum of 150 words.?Explain why you agree or disagree. Then, share an example from your professional experience to support your assertions.

Principles of the Belmont Report

Incorporating ethics into the whole research process, from carrying out research goals, selecting the research problem, and interpreting to reporting research findings, it is paramount to ensure that the entire research process I guided by ethical principles past informed consent. The Belmont report provides a range of ethical principles that researchers can employ to avoid a wide array of ethical dilemmas that they confront when conducting day-to-day tasks of any given research (Hesse-Bieber, Creswell & Saldana, 2021). In qualitative research, ethical behaviors tend to be more prominent when researchers employ observations and face-to-face interviews with vulnerable communities/ groups, who may not be in a great position to express their emotions amidst sessions. Therefore, while conducting qualitative research, researchers must comply with the following ethical conducts justice, beneficence, and respect for persons (autonomy). 

The beneficence ethical conduct refers to behaving in ways that promote the welfare and safety of others. In qualitative studies, researchers are required to protect their participants from harm whistle upholding their well-being and respecting their autonomy. Researchers can abide by the principle of beneficence by minimizing harm, not harming, and maximizing any potential benefits. Apart from respecting research participants’ autonomy, qualitative researchers are equally called to respect the privacy and uphold the confidentiality of the participants. Before, going forth with research, a researcher is mandated to seek informed consent from a research participant instead of coercing participation (Kang & Hwang, 2021). Equally, a researcher must undertake the needed precautions to ensure that the research participants are anonymous, and ensure that the information shared during the collection of data is not disclosed to the public in a way that discloses the identity of the research participants. To respect the confidentiality and privacy of participants, a researcher can secure the research records with passwords, and encrypt the files. Finally, a qualitative researcher can uphold the principle of justice by ensuring equal representation of groups by observing race, gender, social economic factors, religion, and other factors that may be relevant to the study. A researcher has the obligation to equally distribute the burdens and benefits of the research equally.

References

Hesse-Biber, S. J., Creswell, J. W., & Saldana, J. (2019). CUSTOM: University of phoenix res 724 qualitative methods and design custom electronic edition. SAGE Publications.

KANG, E., & HWANG, H. J. (2021). Ethical Conducts in Qualitative Research Methodology: Participant Observation and Interview Process. Journal of Research and Publication Ethics, 2(2), 5-10.

Question 2: Review the classmates’ posts and respond to at least one in a minimum of 150 words.?Explain why you agree or disagree. Then, share an example from your professional experience to support your assertions.

Qualitative research, by its nature, involves immersion in situations and relationships which are complex and unpredictable (Reid et al., 2018). As Peters (2013) stated, one ethical consideration is maintaining confidentiality. Researchers must realize their vital role in recruiting and maintaining appropriate relationships with their research participants throughout the study. It is imperative to develop rapport and trust so the participants will share honest information about their lived experiences. Acting ethically as a qualitative researcher includes striving to maintain integrity and altruism, upholding autonomy in gaining consent and access, balancing the protection of vulnerable participants with paternalism, managing multiple roles and power relations, and avoiding harm in disseminating findings (Reid et al., 2018). Maintaining confidentiality requires the researcher to keep all data and information collected in a secured place. Keeping interviews, observation notes, etc. private and not discussing them with anyone outside the research team. 

Furthermore, if it seems too broad to understand how to act ethically when conducting research with human subjects, it is always best to reference the Belmont Report. According to Beauchamp and Childress (1994), the guidelines for ethical behavior are based on the philosophical principles of beneficence, do good; non-maleficence, do no harm; respect for autonomy, self-determination; and equity, treat fairly. Just like medical doctors take the Hippocratic Oath, researchers can refer to the Belmont Report as a guide. When accepting the Noble Peace Prize Joseph Rotblat (1999) mentioned there should be a Hippocratic Oath for scientists, which states, “I promise to work for a better world, where science and technology are used in socially responsible ways. I will not use my education for any purpose intended to harm human beings or the environment. Throughout my career, I will consider my work’s ethical implications before taking action.”