Assessing Risk in Social and Behavioral Sciences Flashcards
What are the 3 more common categories of harm in social and behavioral sciences?
Invasion of privacy, breach of confidentiality, study procedures
What are common categories of harm?
Psychological harm, physical harm, legal harm, social harm, and economic harm
What is invasion of Privacy?
It can occur if personal information is accessed or collected without the subject’s knowledge or consent. It can also occur if the subject’s participation in the study is revealed despite assurances that this would not happen.
What is breach of confidentiality?
Confidentiality can be compromised through an unauthorized release of data, which could have a negative impact on the subjects’ psychological, social, or economic status.
How are subjects placed in harm as a result of study procedures?
Simply taking part in research can sometimes put subjects at risk. Examples:
Researcher is conducting interviews with individual gang members, and it may be necessary to find places to meet where other members of the gang could not observe the interaction. When there’s a potential for a breach of confidentiality, not because of inadequate confidentiality procedures on the part of the research team, but from subjects themselves when data are collected in a group setting such as a focus group. Possibility of re-traumatization when protocols involve asking subjects questions about trauma or abuse.
What are 2 elements of risk that must be considered?
The probability of harm - the likelihood that a specific harm might occur; and the magnitude or severity of harm should it occur. The interaction between these two elements is a crucial factor in determining the level of risk of harm in the study.
How does beneficence impact risk?
Risks of harm associated with research must be reasonable in relation to the potential benefits.
What is a certificate of confidentiality?
Certificates of confidentiality are issued by the National Institutes of Health NIH to protect identifiable research information from compelled disclosure. They may be obtained for any research, regardless of funding, so long as the research is relevant to the mission of the NIH/DHHS. They really granted for studies collecting information that, if disclosed, could have adverse consequences for subjects or damage the financial standing, employability, insurability, or reputation. They will allow the investigator and others who have access to research records to refuse to disclose identifying information on individual research participants in civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, or other proceedings, whether at the federal, state, or local level.
Information that can be protected includes, but is not limited to:
Substance abuse or other illegal behaviors.
Sexual attitudes, orientation, or practices.
Genetic information.
Psychological well-being.
Certificates of Confidentiality may be secured for any sensitive research, regardless of funding source. In fact, the research does not have to be funded.
