Week 5: The Ethics of Interviews

Question 1

According to TCPS2 guidelines, which of the following is a required component of informed consent in qualitative interview research?
A. Detailed information about the potential risks of physical harm.
B. Clear explanation of how participants’ responses will be used, including potential risks of emotional distress.
C. Explicit information about the compensation provided for participation.
D. A guarantee that the research will not affect the participant’s future employment opportunities.
E. A promise that the interview process will never involve emotional content.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Informed consent requires explaining how the participant’s data will be used and any potential emotional risks, which are common in qualitative research, especially when dealing with sensitive topics

Question 2

Research Ethics Boards (REBs) are often perplexed by qualitative interview research due to which of the following reasons?
A. Qualitative research is too focused on the statistical data rather than personal experiences.
B. The difficulty in measuring the emotional risks and benefits to participants during in-depth, unstructured interviews.
C. The absence of standard ethical guidelines that apply universally to all types of research.
D. The lack of a consistent interview format that ensures all participants are asked the same questions.
E. The lack of any potential for participant emotional involvement.

Answer 2

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: REBs are concerned about the emotional risks associated with unstructured interviews, where participants may experience distress or harm due to the sensitive nature of the topics discussed​

Question 3

What does the concept of “proportionate review” in research ethics imply?
A. Research projects should be approved based on their potential for significant physical risk to participants.
B. The level of scrutiny applied by REBs should be proportional to the potential risks posed to participants.
C. Only qualitative research with guaranteed low-risk outcomes should be reviewed.
D. Research projects with substantial financial backing should undergo a more thorough ethical review.
E. Qualitative research should always be subject to full review due to its subjective nature.

Answer 3

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Proportionate review suggests that the level of ethical scrutiny should be matched to the potential risks of the research, ensuring that lower-risk studies are not burdened by excessive oversight

Question 4

How do the risks involved in clinical research differ from those in qualitative research?
A. Clinical research focuses on physical risks, while qualitative research typically involves emotional and psychological risks.
B. Qualitative research poses significantly more physical risk to participants than clinical research.
C. Clinical research generally involves emotional distress but poses fewer psychological risks than qualitative research.
D. There is no difference in the risks between clinical and qualitative research.
E. Both types of research involve only minimal emotional and physical risks.

Answer 4

Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Clinical research typically focuses on physical risks, while qualitative research is more concerned with emotional and psychological risks due to the sensitive nature of the topics discussed

Question 5

According to REBs, which of the following is a categorical risk posed by in-depth unstructured interviews?
A. The risk of physically harming the participant during the interview.
B. The potential for emotional distress and psychological harm, especially when discussing sensitive topics.
C. The possibility of introducing confusion due to unclear, structured questions.
D. The risk of participants misunderstanding the research questions due to language barriers.
E. The risk of the interviewer failing to adhere to the research protocol.

Answer 5

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In-depth unstructured interviews often involve discussing sensitive topics, which can lead to emotional distress, a primary concern for REBs in qualitative research

Question 6

Which of the following risks commonly associated with unstructured interviews is debunked by participants’ own experiences?
A. That participants are likely to be overwhelmed with emotional distress throughout the interview.
B. That participants never experience any form of relief or catharsis during or after the interview.
C. That emotional distress is always harmful and negatively impacts participants’ well-being.
D. That participants cannot distinguish between emotional arousal and appraisal during interviews.
E. That emotional distress during interviews leads to long-term psychological harm

Answer 6

Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Participants often experience emotional distress during unstructured interviews but report that they do not remain distressed throughout, often experiencing relief or catharsis later in the process​

Question 7

Which of the following best defines “emotion” in the context of qualitative research interviews, according to the TCPS2?
A. A physical reaction to external stimuli, which does not influence the interview process.
B. The subjective, contextual, and interpretive experience that can either enhance or hinder data collection.
C. A simple, one-dimensional feeling that is either positive or negative.
D. A neutral experience that does not impact the quality of interview data.
E. A negative experience that must be avoided during interviews.

Answer 7

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Emotion in qualitative interviews is complex, subjective, and contextual, often influencing the depth and quality of the data collected​

Question 8

When conducting qualitative interviews, how should a researcher address emotional distress experienced by participants?
A. Ignore emotional responses to ensure neutrality in the research.
B. Validate the participant’s emotional experience and provide the option for follow-up support or counseling if necessary.
C. Immediately terminate the interview to prevent further distress.
D. Encourage participants to suppress their emotions to stay on topic.
E. Record emotional reactions as irrelevant to the study.

Answer 8

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Researchers should validate emotional responses and offer support, such as follow-up counseling, to ensure participants’ emotional well-being and the integrity of the research process​

Question 9

Is emotional distress caused by qualitative interviews considered harm?
A. Yes, it is always considered harmful and should be avoided at all costs.
B. No, emotional distress is not a concern in qualitative research interviews.
C. Emotional distress is not inherently harmful and may even lead to therapeutic outcomes like catharsis.
D. Emotional distress is harmful only if it leads to long-term psychological damage.
E. Emotional distress should be disregarded as part of the research process.

Answer 9

Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Emotional distress in interviews is not always harmful and may lead to therapeutic outcomes, such as catharsis, which can be a valuable part of the research experience​

Question 10

Are unstructured interviews unethical due to the emotional distress they may cause participants?
A. Yes, unstructured interviews are inherently unethical because they always cause emotional distress.
B. No, unstructured interviews are ethical as long as emotional distress is managed and participants’ well-being is prioritized.
C. Yes, unstructured interviews should be avoided in any research involving sensitive topics.
D. No, unstructured interviews are unethical only if participants become physically distressed.
E. Yes, unstructured interviews lack the structure necessary to maintain ethical standards.

Answer 10

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Unstructured interviews are not inherently unethical; managing emotional distress and ensuring the well-being of participants are key ethical considerations​

Question 11

What role does emotion play in protecting participants in qualitative research interviews?
A. Emotion should be completely avoided to maintain objective data collection.
B. Emotion provides moral sensitivity, helping the researcher understand the participant’s needs and ensuring proper protection.
C. Emotion serves as a barrier to effective data collection and should be minimized.
D. Emotion is irrelevant to the participant’s protection during interviews.
E. Emotion only complicates the researcher’s understanding and hinders protection efforts.

Answer 11

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Emotion enhances moral sensitivity, enabling researchers to engage with participants’ distress and provide appropriate protection and support during interviews​

Question 12

Which of the following is an essential component of informed consent as per TCPS2 guidelines in qualitative research?
A. Guaranteeing no emotional distress will occur during the interview.
B. Informing participants about the potential risks, including emotional distress, and their right to withdraw at any time.
C. Ensuring that participants receive a monetary incentive for their participation.
D. Disclosing the identities of other participants involved in the study.
E. Avoiding the disclosure of how the data will be used to maintain neutrality.

Answer 12

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Informed consent requires clear communication about potential risks, including emotional distress, and emphasizes participants’ autonomy and right to withdraw​1

Question 13

A researcher conducting unstructured interviews notices a participant crying while discussing a traumatic event. How should the researcher ethically address this situation?
A. Ignore the crying and continue the interview to avoid bias.
B. Pause the interview, provide reassurance, and offer the participant an option to take a break or stop the interview.
C. Immediately stop the interview and remove the participant from the study.
D. Shift the focus to lighter questions without addressing the participant’s emotions.
E. Encourage the participant to discuss their feelings in more detail to gather richer data.

Answer 13

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Providing reassurance and offering the option to pause or stop respects the participant’s emotional well-being and ethical research principles​

Question 14

What does proportionate review by Research Ethics Boards (REBs) involve?
A. Focusing primarily on the financial backing of a research project.
B. Balancing the level of scrutiny with the potential risks posed to participants.
C. Applying the same level of review to all studies, regardless of their risk.
D. Prioritizing the societal benefits of research over individual risks.
E. Limiting ethical review to qualitative studies only.

Answer 14

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Proportionate review ensures the level of scrutiny matches the risk level, avoiding unnecessary barriers for low-risk research

Question 15

Which of the following risks is most associated with unstructured interviews, as identified by Research Ethics Boards (REBs)?
A. Physical harm caused by prolonged interviews.
B. Emotional distress resulting from discussing sensitive topics.
C. Financial burden on participants for travel to interviews.
D. Increased risk of misinterpreting the researcher’s questions.
E. Lack of data reliability due to participant discomfort.

Answer 15

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Emotional distress is a key risk in unstructured interviews, as participants often discuss sensitive and personal topics​

Question 16

A participant reports feeling both relief and sadness after discussing a personal loss during an unstructured interview. How should this emotional response be interpreted?
A. As a negative emotional valence requiring follow-up therapy.
B. As a harmful emotional reaction that violates ethical research standards.
C. As a complex emotional response that includes both catharsis and grief, which are common in unstructured interviews.
D. As an indication that the interview questions were inappropriate.
E. As evidence that unstructured interviews are inherently unethical.

Answer 16

Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Emotions like relief and sadness often coexist in qualitative interviews, reflecting the complexity of participant experiences

Question 17

How does emotion enhance the protection of participants in qualitative interviews?
A. By ensuring that participants avoid discussing sensitive topics.
B. By enabling researchers to comprehend the significance of participants’ experiences and respond empathetically.
C. By preventing participants from becoming emotionally distressed.
D. By ensuring researchers maintain a neutral and detached stance.
E. By limiting the scope of the interview to factual questions only.

Answer 17

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Emotion helps researchers understand participants’ experiences and engage empathetically, ensuring ethical conduct and participant protection

Question 18

A participant mentions feeling emotionally relieved after sharing their traumatic story during an unstructured interview. This response reflects which concept?
A. Emotional distress as harm.
B. Emotional valence as a negative outcome.
C. The cathartic effect of qualitative interviews.
D. A violation of ethical research standards.
E. Evidence of poor interview design.

Answer 18

Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Catharsis is a common and beneficial outcome of qualitative interviews, where participants find relief in sharing their stories

Question 19

How should a researcher differentiate between emotional arousal and harm during a qualitative interview?
A. By treating all emotional responses as harmful to participants.
B. By focusing on whether the participant expresses regret for participating in the interview.
C. By distinguishing between immediate emotional arousal and long-term psychological harm.
D. By avoiding emotionally charged topics altogether.
E. By ensuring that participants never express negative emotions.

Answer 19

Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Emotional arousal, such as distress during the interview, does not necessarily equate to harm and may even lead to therapeutic outcomes like validation​

Question 20

Why is emotional distress not always considered harmful in qualitative research?
A. It is always a byproduct of research and thus unavoidable.
B. Participants often report that distress leads to relief, validation, or a sense of purpose.
C. Emotional distress is rare in unstructured interviews.
D. Researchers have no obligation to address participants’ emotional states.
E. Participants are required to manage their emotions independently.

Answer 20

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Emotional distress can be part of a meaningful process for participants, leading to relief, validation, or other positive outcomes​

Question 21

A Research Ethics Board refuses to approve a study using unstructured interviews, citing emotional distress as an unacceptable risk. How should the researcher respond?
A. Agree to switch to structured interviews to avoid emotional risks.
B. Provide evidence that emotional distress can be cathartic and is not inherently harmful.
C. Modify the study to exclude sensitive topics entirely.
D. Limit the interview duration to minimize emotional involvement.
E. Reduce the sample size to limit participant exposure to the interview

Answer 21

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Researchers can address REB concerns by providing evidence that emotional distress is often cathartic and not necessarily harmful when managed ethically

Question 22

Why is emotion considered an integral part of unstructured interviews?
A. Because it disrupts the neutrality of the interview process.
B. Because it allows participants to avoid deeply personal disclosures.
C. Because it enhances the depth and authenticity of the data collected.
D. Because it ensures participants remain passive during the interview.
E. Because it prevents researchers from influencing participants’ responses.

Answer 22

Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Emotion is critical in qualitative research as it provides depth and authenticity, helping researchers understand participants’ lived experiences​

Question 23

What is a common reason REBs are hesitant to approve unstructured interviews?
A. They believe such interviews lack scientific rigor.
B. They view emotional distress as an inherent harm rather than a contextual response.
C. They require interviews to follow a strict structure to be considered ethical.
D. They are concerned that participants will provide inconsistent data.
E. They prefer surveys for all qualitative research.

Answer 23

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: REBs often view emotional distress as inherently harmful, without considering its context or potential therapeutic outcomes​

Question 24

A researcher ensures that participants in a qualitative study are informed of their right to stop the interview if they feel overwhelmed. Which ethical principle does this demonstrate?
A. Respect for autonomy.
B. Beneficence.
C. Non-maleficence.
D. Justice.
E. Fidelity.

Answer 24

Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Allowing participants to stop the interview ensures respect for their autonomy and prioritizes their emotional well-being

Question 25

How should researchers ethically balance the potential emotional risks to participants with the benefits of qualitative research?
A. Avoid all research that involves emotional topics.
B. Ensure participants are fully informed about potential risks and benefits, allowing them to decide whether to participate.
C. Minimize all emotional responses by asking only factual questions.
D. Prioritize the societal benefits of research over individual participant concerns.
E. Seek approval only for low-risk studies that avoid sensitive issues.

Answer 25

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fully informing participants allows them to weigh risks and benefits, ensuring ethical balance in qualitative research

Question 26

After completing an emotionally intense interview, a participant reports feeling relief and validation despite initial distress. How should the researcher interpret this feedback?
A. As evidence that the interview caused harm.
B. As proof that qualitative interviews are always beneficial.
C. As a demonstration of the complexity of emotional responses in qualitative research.
D. As a sign that the interview questions need to be revised.
E. As confirmation that emotional distress should be avoided in future interviews.

Answer 26

Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Participants often experience complex emotions during qualitative interviews, highlighting the nuanced nature of emotional distress and its potential benefits

Question 27

A Research Ethics Board (REB) reviews a proposal for a qualitative study involving interviews about grief and loss. What is the REB most likely to assess during the review process?
A. Whether the researcher is experienced in grief counseling.
B. The balance between the emotional risks to participants and the potential benefits of the study’s findings.
C. The number of participants needed to achieve statistical significance.
D. The cost of the study relative to its societal importance.
E. The researcher’s plan for publishing the results in high-impact journals.

Answer 27

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: REBs prioritize the balance of risks and benefits, especially when emotional risks are involved in qualitative studies about sensitive topics​

Question 28

During a qualitative interview, a participant becomes emotional while discussing a personal experience. How should the researcher ethically handle this situation?
A. Allow the participant to express their emotions and ensure they feel supported.
B. Stop the interview immediately to prevent further distress.
C. Redirect the conversation to less sensitive topics.
D. Ignore the emotional response and continue with the interview.
E. Advise the participant to seek professional counseling after the study.

Answer 28

Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Ethically, the researcher should allow participants to express emotions, providing a safe space while ensuring support is available if needed​

Question 29

Which of the following is a key component of informed consent, as required by Research Ethics Boards?
A. Guaranteeing that participants will not experience any emotional distress.
B. Explaining the potential risks and benefits of participation, including emotional risks.
C. Offering financial compensation to participants for their time.
D. Providing participants with detailed results of the study before publication.
E. Limiting participation to individuals who have prior interview experience.

Answer 29

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Informed consent must include a clear explanation of risks and benefits, empowering participants to make an informed decision​

Question 30

A low-risk qualitative study exploring workplace satisfaction is submitted to an REB. What does the principle of proportionate review suggest about this proposal?
A. It should undergo the same rigorous review as high-risk studies.
B. It should receive expedited review due to its minimal risks.
C. It should not require REB review since it is low-risk.
D. It should be reviewed solely by the lead researcher to save time.
E. It should focus only on quantitative data to reduce ethical concerns.

Answer 30

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Proportionate review means studies with minimal risks may qualify for expedited review, reducing administrative burden without compromising ethical standards​

Question 31

Why is emotional distress experienced during qualitative interviews not always considered unethical?
A. Emotional distress is an inevitable part of all research methodologies.
B. Participants often find the process cathartic or validating, despite temporary distress.
C. Emotional distress has no significant impact on participants’ overall well-being.
D. Ethical guidelines do not address emotional distress in qualitative research.
E. Emotional responses are irrelevant to the validity of the data collected.

Answer 31

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Emotional distress can lead to beneficial outcomes, such as catharsis or validation, making it an acceptable aspect of qualitative research when ethically managed

Question 32

How does emotion contribute to protecting participants during qualitative interviews?
A. By ensuring researchers remain neutral and detached.
B. By enabling researchers to understand participants’ experiences and respond empathetically.
C. By eliminating the need for informed consent.
D. By limiting participants’ ability to express their feelings.
E. By discouraging participants from discussing sensitive topics.

Answer 32

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Emotion enhances researchers’ ability to empathize with participants, ensuring ethical conduct and participant protection during interviews​

Question 33

Which of the following risks are Research Ethics Boards most concerned about in unstructured interviews?
A. Financial burden on participants.
B. Emotional distress arising from discussing sensitive topics.
C. Physical harm during the interview process.
D. Lack of consistency in interview questions.
E. Ethical concerns about anonymity in group settings.

Answer 33

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Emotional distress is a primary concern for REBs when evaluating qualitative research involving sensitive or personal topics

Question 34

How can a researcher justify the use of unstructured interviews despite the risk of emotional distress?
A. By emphasizing the societal benefits of the research.
B. By demonstrating that distress is often temporary and can lead to positive outcomes like catharsis.
C. By ensuring that participants are unaware of the emotional risks involved.
D. By arguing that the researcher’s neutrality minimizes distress.
E. By including financial compensation for participants who experience distress.

Answer 34

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Temporary emotional distress can lead to positive outcomes, such as catharsis, making unstructured interviews ethically justifiable when managed properly

Question 35

A participant begins to feel overwhelmed during an unstructured interview. What is the researcher’s most ethical course of action?
A. Insist the participant continue to ensure data completeness.
B. Allow the participant to pause or withdraw, respecting their autonomy.
C. Redirect the participant to a different topic without addressing their discomfort.
D. Provide counseling during the interview to help the participant cope.
E. Proceed with the interview, assuming the participant will recover.

Answer 35

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Respecting participant autonomy is essential, and they should be allowed to pause or withdraw if overwhelmed

Question 36

A participant in a qualitative study reports feeling both upset and relieved after discussing their traumatic experiences. How should the researcher interpret this response?
A. As an indication that the interview was too distressing and should be redesigned.
B. As a complex emotional outcome that reflects the depth of qualitative research.
C. As evidence that the participant’s responses are unreliable.
D. As proof that unstructured interviews are unethical.
E. As an indication that follow-up counseling is mandatory for all participants.

Answer 36

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Mixed emotions, such as relief and sadness, often emerge in qualitative research and highlight the complexity of participant experiences​