Читать книгу 100 Questions (and Answers) About Research Ethics - Emily E. Anderson - Страница 28

Research in the social and behavioral sciences may explore sensitive topics. A few examples include domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual practices, or the death of a loved one. Such research poses psychological risks such as sadness, anxiety, or embarrassment. You can take several steps to reduce the possibility that participants experience psychological harm from participating in research on sensitive topics.

You should consider the method of data collection, as different methods carry different kinds of risks. The thorough exploration of past experiences through in-depth interviews may increase the risk of psychological harm compared with surveys, which are usually more superficial. However, in-depth interviews involve a relational aspect that might provide greater opportunities for participants to make meaning of their experiences and thereby increase participants’ perceived benefits and contribution to science as compared with surveys. Conducting face-to-face, in-depth interviews also includes the possibility of other risks, such as a breach of privacy because the participants’ identities are known by the researcher, and they may be seen by others.

Methods to reduce the possibility of psychological harm include

 limiting the number of sensitive questions included in a survey or interview guide to the most essential;

 during the informed consent process, describing the types of questions that will be asked so potential participants can decline if they feel that the questions are too intrusive or that they might become upset from answering the questions; and

 letting participants know ahead of time that they can choose not to answer any question that makes them feel uncomfortable.

If a participant becomes upset, it is a good practice to stop the survey or interview—if it is a face-to-face or telephone interaction—and allow the participant time to regain composure. If in person, interviewers should offer the participant tissues and a glass of water. Once the participant is ready, the interview or survey can resume. However, participants should be allowed to stop the interview or survey completely if they do not want to continue. In these situations, the interviewer should obtain the participant’s permission to allow any data provided thus far to be included in the research—even if a consent form has been signed. If participants decline, their data should not be included in the dataset. Even when the survey or interview was not completed, interviewers should provide the participant with the reimbursement or incentive for completing the interview or survey.

Identifying and minimizing psychological harm can be trickier in research that is not conducted in person, particularly for online surveys, because the researcher will not know if the participant becomes upset. For research conducted in any setting, when applicable, researchers should arrange for referral to counselors and list community programs for any participants who want such services—even for those who do not become upset during the research. These services can be described to participants at the end of the survey/interview or earlier, if appropriate.

More questions? See #11, #12, and #97.