Ethical Issues in Research

1-What are your thoughts about Anna’s rationale for not obtaining informed consent?

Concerns about the ethical issues of the research Anna are a genuinely valid reason to be concerned. She is very concerned with the accurateness of the research findings that are affected by the scenario of informing participants about the topic and hypothesis of the study. The ethics of research need the researcher to provide enough information regarding the study to the participants. Moreover, the information on the research should be communicated in a way that makes the participant understand the research and make an informed research decision on participating in it. The decision of the participant is needed to be competent and should be in writing and voluntarily. It shows that Anna cannot in any way keep the participants in the dark about the research hypothesis (Yip, Han, & Sng, 2016).

2-If the value of the research seems to be greater than the risks involved to participants, do you think researchers are justified in not obtaining the informed consent of participants?

It is not always the case. Even though some researchers are found to be beneficial enough to have more value to get the waivers, it is not always the same case. The researchers have not always justified in their reasoning of obtaining the information from the participants without informing them about the research topic. The reason for considering the research more important to think its value is greater than the risks is not always justified. The participants have all the right to be informed of the purpose of the research, about the researcher, and about the reason they are being surveyed. The benefits and harms of the research are to be communicated to the participants as well. The waiver on the consent of the participants can also be given in the case when old records of data are being utilized and not primary data are being collected (Fouka & Mantzorou, 2011).

3-Would Anna’s approach as described above meet A University’s informed consent criteria?

It is certain that the approach of Anna would not qualify the consent criteria of the University as the consent criteria clearly show that the researcher needs to obtain volunteer and written consent from the participants on their acceptance of participating in the research which they fully understand. It is ethical to give the opportunity to the participant to consider if it wants to participate or not. If the participants are under the age of 18, the University consent criteria also demand the consent of its guardians other than the individual consent. In those scenarios where the research becomes impossible to be carried out the researcher is demanded to ask for a waiver from the informed consent of the participants. It shows that as per the consent criteria of the University the informed consent is necessary to be obtained for removing chances of any unethical concerns.

4-What advice would you give Anna about informed consent and how she should deal with her study participants?

The advice which I should give to Anna in terms of the informed consent and her research requirement as per the university criteria should be that she should first seek consent in written form from the guardians of the student and then she should give the information to the students about the procedure of the study, its benefits and its risks and then ask them to conduct as neutral in the research. However, as this seems to be impractical to ask the participants to be neutral in their conduct after informing them about the study, Anna should do well by asking for a waiver on this specific research from the authorities who are responsible for issuing waivers in school. It will not only ensure legality and will protect Anna if in case any unethical concerns are raised by participants or others. It will also ensure that the research is conducted effectively with no room for ambiguity in its results as the participants are not going to be informed (AU Institutional Review Board, 2011).

References:

AU Institutional Review Board. (2011). Institutional Review Board Handbook. AU Institutional Review Board. Retrieved from AU Institutional Review Board.

Fouka, G., & Mantzorou, M. (2011). What are the major ethical issues in conducting research? is there a conflict between the research ethics and the nature of nursing? Health Science Journal, 5(1), 4-14.

Yip, C., Han, N.-L. R., & Sng, B. L. (2016). Legal and ethical issues in research. Indian Journal of Anaesthesia, 60(9), 684-688.