Module 3: Research Ethics

Question 1

Research Ethics Boards (REB)

Answer 1

• develop and regulate ethical principles
• every time a researcher wants to conduct a study, they need to submit there research to be ethically reviewed by the REB
• makes sure researchers are complying with ethical guidelines
• reviews their research plan to determine if it adheres to or violates ethics
• necessary step in process
• protects everyone involved; researchers, institutions, participants

Question 2

Tri- Agency Ethical Guidelines
also called TCPS

Answer 2

• collaboration bw NSERC, SSERC, CIHR ( 3 major national research bodies)
• covers all research conducted in Canada
• guidelines/ framework for conducting ethical research regardless of the discipline
• REB operates to ensure compliance with these guidelines

Question 3

Are researchers obligated to comply with the Tri- Agency Ethical Guidelines?

Answer 3

• Yes

Question 4

Do we have to get reviewed by an REB?

Answer 4

• Yes
• conducting research without approval or violating ethics while conducting research is an offense and misconduct
• EVERY RESEARCH PROJECT HAS TO BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY REB

Question 5

Underlying value/ guideline of the ethical framework?

Answer 5

• Respect for Human Dignity
• research must be sensitive and respectful to humans

Question 6

Main value of respect for human dignity gives rise to

Answer 6

• 3 core principles that underlie each individual guideline put forth by the Tri- Agency

Question 7

3 core principles

Answer 7

1. respect for persons
2. concern for welfare
3. justice

• core principles work together
• want to maximize the principles in the research
• often vague and therefore evaluated within the context of the research
• depending on research, each one is weighted differently

Question 8

1. Respect for persons

Answer 8

• cardinal principle
• participants don’t exist for us to research; they are people
• protect every aspect of the participant
• emphasize autonomy, and free and informed consent
• value for humans

Question 9

informed consent

Answer 9

• participants are given the choice of whether to participate or not
• decision of participation is based on information of what participation will entail for them
• dont need to know exact hypothesis; need to know about all the aspects of the study that will directly impact the participant

Question 10

Consent Form

Answer 10

• outlines all the information that participant needs to know in order to make a decision about participating
• how researcher receive informed consent

Question 11

Deception

Answer 11

• not revealing the true intent of the study to the participant
• either not telling the participant everything they need to know or telling them one thing, when actually another thing will occur
• Deceive them

Question 12

Does deception violate informed consent?

Answer 12

• yes
• sometimes necessary to use deception and the guidelines recognize this

Question 13

when can deception be used?

Answer 13

• when approved by the REB
• use of deception has to be VITAL and must be corrected by debriefing, then REB may approve it

Question 14

Debriefing

Answer 14

• right after the participant has completed the study, researcher has to debrief and correct the deception
• fully inform the participant
• after debriefing, researcher offers the participant to withdraw there initial consent

Question 15

Coercion

Answer 15

• participants feel obligated to participate in the study
• don’t want this, we want voluntary participation
• ex. personal relationship with researcher, incentive too good to pass, fear of repercussions ( loosing treatment/ incentive)

Question 16

Vulnerable Persons

Answer 16

• individuals extra vulnerable when it comes to informed consent and voluntary participation
  ex.
• lack the intellectual capacity; children, people with dementia
• lesser power; inmates

Question 17

Special procedures for vulnerable persons

Answer 17

• consent from a legal proxy (someone who has the legal authority to make decisions on their behalf)
• Gaining assent; still want to inform participant and give them choice, even if legally the participant cannot give consent

Question 18

2. Concern for Welfare

Answer 18

• need to protect the access to, control of and dissemination of information we gather from the participants
• balance the benefits to risks of conducting the research q
• welfare including physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health

Question 19

Confidentiality

Answer 19

• researcher knows the identity of the participant
• use pseudonyms instead of participants real names
• any participant identifying information is kept securely so no one else can access it
• data is aggregated so no one person can be identified

Question 20

Anonymity

Answer 20

• researcher does not know the identity of the participant
• participant is anonymous
• cannot link responses to your identity
  ex. online surveys
• very rare

Question 21

Is info participants give legally protected?

Answer 21

• NO
• not legally protected like a doctor or lawyer
• have to tell participants limitations to the confidentiality
• consent form outlines breaks in confidentiality
• ex. police could compel us to give identifying info of a suspected drug dealer

Question 22

Harm vs Benefits

Answer 22

• research has to do more good than harm
• all research has some harm but we need to anticipate the harm and minimize it
• results are greater than the harm that may occur

Question 23

Maximize_______ and reduce_________

Answer 23

• Benefits
• Harms

Question 24

Minimal Risk

Answer 24

Research being deemed as no more risky than what a participant would endure in everyday life

Question 25

Above Minimal Risk

Answer 25

Research has harms or risk beyond what is expected in everyday life
- physical/ invasive procedures= above minimal risk

Question 26

Risks in research stem from

Answer 26

• task participant asked to do
• characteristic’s of the participant
• also have a combo of both
  can have procedures that are not risky for one group, but are risky for another group
• whats deemed as minimal risk for a 20 yrs old may be above minimal risk for an 80 yrs old

Question 27

Guidelines say we want to maximize benefits of research for

Answer 27

• participants
• society
• scientific knowledge
• research that does not advance scientific knowledge lacks merit and is therefore unethical
• unethical to waste participants time on engaging in research with no merit

Question 28

3. Justice

Answer 28

• guidelines acknowledges historically certain populations have been harmed by research and excluded from receiving the benefits
• address that the duty of researchers is to recognize the power imbalance and to ensure all segments of society bear burdens and can access rewards
• treat people fairly, no segment should face more harms

Question 29

Historically research done with Indigenous peoples was

Answer 29

• harmful and exploitative
• used western worldviews
• knowledge gained did not benefit indigenous communities and peoples
• caused mistrust

Question 30

TCPS and research with Indigenous peoples

Answer 30

• acknowledges the history
• researcher must honour the traditions and culture
• research done with the participants and not on the participants. community engaged approach
• involved in the research process
• balanced relationship bw researcher and participant

Question 31

conducting research without an ethical review

Answer 31

• not an option
• most serious offense an researcher can make

Question 32

what principle is the most important

Answer 32

• can’t say which principle is the most important
• depends on the situation
• sometimes have to attribute more weight to one principle vs another