Chapters 3 & 4: Research Ethics, Quality in Qualitative Research Flashcards
What are the principles of research ethics?
protection from harm (physical and psychological)
respect for individual dignity
right to self-determination
right to privacy
protection of confidentiality
What is honesty and integrity in the research process?
declare potential conflicts of interest at the point where ethical approach is sought, and detail how these are to be avoided
avoid any fabrication or dishonest of data or presentation of findings
acknowledge fully and fairly the contribution of all those involved in the research project
Rigour
the practice of doing something with great care, thoroughly and systematically to ensure the process and outcome is of a high quality
has the research been carried out in a systematic manner?
Validity
in the context of qualitative research, this refers to the credibility or believability of the research - are the findings trustworthy
Reflexivity
what was the relationship between the researcher and the research they have carried out?
Transparency and Audit Trail
how clear is the research process?
Coherence
is there a clear thread running through the research that connects it all together?
Value/Contribution of the Research
is this research useful and applicable to the context in which it was conducted
Transparency
means providing as clearly as possible the information needed for the reader to make their own assessment of your work
it is closely linked to the provision of audit trails in which the information of data, from its raw state to its final interpretation, is explicitly documented
What is rigour in qualitative research?
the practice of doing something with great care, thoroughly and systematically to ensure the process and outcome is of a high quality
What is validity in qualitative research?
in the context of qualitative research, this refers to the credibility or believability of the research - are the findings trustworthy
What are guidelines for validity?
different methodologies may have different guidelines for validity
considerations regarding validity may be informed by epistemological
What are some guidelines for validity that some methodologies have?
transparency of analytic claims
validation through “next turn”
deviant case analysis
questions about the institutional character of interaction
the generalizability of finding
translating into quantitative methods
What is the transparence of analytic claims?
apparent validity: once you read the claim, you are convinced that they are transparently true
very similar to face validity
is the question doing what it’s supposed to?
What is validation through “next turn”?
expressions are understood within the context of an interaction
in conversations, does the next person’s response validate the researcher’s interpretation?
What is deviant case analysis?
some participant’s behaviors may be a departure from the expected course of events… Who are these people?
What are three ways to deal with deviant cases?
can be understood within the intended framework (“exceptions prove the rule”)
modify framework
may need to be addressed individually
What is the validity of claims concerning the institutional context?
our behaviors and attitudes (to some extent) is informed by our roles/institutions
an interview is an institutional context itself
individuals may have multiple “identities” and even institutional identities may be multifaceted
What are generalizability of findings?
can we generalize findings to different samples, events, situations, and past studies
generalizability will be based on the research question
studies that may seem to be totally different may be able to inform generalizability
What is quantification?
sometimes we may be able to quantify our data to further validate our interpretations
requires specific coding
What is reflexivity?
reflecting upon how their own views, attitudes and experiences have impacted upon the research
personal reflexivity
epistemological reflexivity
less distance (vs. quantitative) requires the research to take a step back and reflect: all researchers should be doing this
write in first person
reflexive journal
transparency: to the degree that you can, confidentiality and space limits
What is coherence?
is the study internally, consistent, comprehensive, and persuasive as a whole?
are you consistent with your theoretical approach, chosen method, and your interpretations and are these suitable for your research question?
is consistent with previous/related findings?
using the “golden thread”
What are questions to ask yourself regarding rigor?
does my study make a contribution to the area of investigation?
does it do this in a way that shows rigour and coherence?
are the processes and decisions involved clear?
is my role in the study made explicit?
am I confident that I have done all that I can make this a piece of work of the highest possible quality?
What is ethics in psychological research?
early studies in psychology (and other sciences) were not always ethical: some more than others
several countries require institutions to develop committees/boards for ethical approval
ethical principles for quantitative and qualitative studies share a lot of overlap but qualitative research may provide unique challenges
What are the APA’s five general principles for ethics?
beneficence and nonmaleficence
fidelity and responsibility
integrity
justice
respect for people’s rights and dignity
What is informed consent?
participants should know what the study is about, their role, and how the data will be handled, info about withdrawing
some exceptions exist
may be needed throughout process
lay out various things they need to consent to
“off the records” remarks
What is confidentiality?
the condition in which the researcher knows the identity of a research subject, but takes steps to protect that identity from being discovered by others
What is anonymity?
the condition in which the identity of individual subjects is not known to researchers
Why are confidentiality and anonymity important?
rights to keep information confidential/anonymous is necessary
qualitative research may need to go further to ensure confidentiality/anonymity than quantitative research
unique details may get around any attempts at confidentiality/anonymity
not just the participant but those who may come up during study
What is withdrawal of data?
participants have a right to request their data, in part or in whole, not be used
cannot penalize or punish participants request not to use data
clear details on the process and any possible deadlines to withdraw data must be provide
What is assessing risk of harm?
researchers must consider the harm of the participating in their study: physical and psychological
may need to exclude potential participants from participating
additional considerations for specific groups
harm =/= distress
check in time to time
may address harm/distress in several forms: halting a study may actually be problematic
What is researcher safety?
the researcher’s safety must also be considered
extraordinary or controversial subjects may be interesting but may also pose a risk to the researcher
What are several ways to help ensure researcher safety?
choose an official setting
have someone with you
let someone know where you are and when to expect you to return
periodically communicate with someone
choose a quiet but public space
use only professional contact information
What is deception?
hotly debated topic in psychological research
less of an issue in qualitative research
partially informed consent may be necessary but must be justified and then resolved as soon as possible via debriefing
What is honesty and integrity in the research process?
full disclosure is crucial to the academic process
fabricating/manipulating data is out of the question: includes neglecting key information that runs counter to the rest of the report
those with significant contributions should be acknowledged in some way
What is the role and relationships between researcher and participant?
qualitative studies may pose a unique situation that can easily shift the researcher-participant relationship
may need to set up clear boundaries: know your role, expertise, and limitations
good rapport may be necessary but needs to be contextualized
having a specific deadline for end of relationship may help clear things up
What is online data?
online data is easy to get but requires some unique considerations
consent to use online information: just because you have access to “public” posts, doesn’t mean it is ethical to use
confidentiality and anonymity are much harder to ensure
consent may need to be required from the person as well as other parties
